The effect of fathers’ birth attendance on paternal attachment and the perception of parental role: a randomised controlled trial

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background Fathers’ birth attendance is associated with support for mothers in infant care, positive child health outcomes, and parental well-being. Objective This study was conducted in a randomised controlled experimental design to investigate the effect of fathers’ birth attendance on paternal-infant attachment and the perception of parental role. Methodology Pregnant women during the childbirth process and their husbands were included in the study and were randomised according to fathers’ birth attendance. The data were collected with the Information Form (IF), Paternal Antenatal Attachment Questionnaire (PAAQ), Self-Perception of Parental Role Scale (SPPRS), Postnatal Paternal-Infant Attachment Questionnaire (PPAQ), and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). The IF data were obtained from women before birth, and the EPDS data were obtained from women 15 days after birth. Results Individual characteristics of mothers and fathers in the groups, and prenatal PAAQ and SPPRS scores of the fathers were similar (p > 0.05). In the postnatal period, a significant difference was found in favour of the intervention group in the PPAQ total (p < 0.01), Patience and Tolerance (p < 0.05) and Pleasure in Interaction (p < 0.01) sub-dimensions. The within-group variation of the SPPRS scores of fathers in the intervention and control groups was analysed. The postnatal Competence (p < 0.01) and Integration (p < 0.05) sub-dimension scores statistically significantly increased in both the intervention and control groups compared to the antenatal period. Conclusion While husbands’ accompanying their wives in the delivery room positively affects paternal-infant attachment, its effect on the perception of parental role is an issue that needs to be further investigated.