The Effects of an Educational Program to Promote First-Time Fathers’ Participation in Childcare and Household Chores

Sanae Yamaguchi,Yukiko Sato

doi:10.15344/2394-4978/2016/166

Abstract

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of an educational program designed to promote first-time fathers’ participation in childcare and household chores. Methods: The study design was a randomized controlled trial. Participants were 48 first-time Japanese fathers. Participants were assigned by block randomization to either an intervention group (n=24) or a control group (n=24). The intervention was conducted once between the 1st and 5th day after childbirth. The primary outcomes were the amount of time fathers spent on childcare and household chores. The secondary outcomes were acceptance of the father’s role in childcare and household chores, confidence in childcare ability, and sense of burden related to childcare. Follow-up was conducted1 month after childbirth. Two-factor repeated measures analysis of variance was performed to compare the amount of time spent on childcare and household chores in both the intervention and control groups. Results: The amount of time spent on household chores significantly increased in the intervention group. In addition,acceptance of thefather’s role in household chores and confidence in childcare ability significantly increased in the intervention group. However, no significant differences were found in the time spent on childcare. Conclusion: The results suggest that the educational program introduced in this study promoted firsttime fathers’ participation in household chores.

Highlights

IntroductionMethodsThe declining birth rate is a major social problem in Japan [1]. A longitudinal study indicated that increasing the amount of time that fathers spend on childcare and household chores could help improve the birth rate of second children [2]
MethodsThe declining birth rate is a major social problem in Japan [1]
Publication History: Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of an educational program designed to promote first-time fathers’ participation in childcare and household chores

Summary

Introduction

MethodsThe declining birth rate is a major social problem in Japan [1]. A longitudinal study indicated that increasing the amount of time that fathers spend on childcare and household chores could help improve the birth rate of second children [2]. Japanese fathers with a child younger than 6 years of age spend an average of 1 hour and 6 minutes on childcare and household chores per day [3]. This figure is very low compared to fathers in Western countries. The Japanese government has set a goal to increase the amount of time fathers with a child younger than 6 years of age spend on childcare and household chores to 2 hours and 30 minutes per day by the year 2017 [4]. Fathers who participated in this prenatal class accounted for 34% of all deliveries at this hospital during the recruitment period. The number of fathers per class ranged from two to 11 people; participants were recruited from 21 classes in order to meet the required sample size

Objectives

Methods

Findings

Conclusion