African Fathers Research Articles

The lived experience of South African men having a premature baby.

Much has been written about fathers, fatherhood and premature babies. However, in the South African context, studies about the experiences of fathers having a premature baby are lacking. This study aimed to explore how South African fathers (n = 10) experience having a premature baby using a descriptive phenomenological approach. This research study was conducted online using various social media platforms such as WhatsApp, Google Meet and through telephonic conversations. A descriptive phenomenological approach that allowed for the distillation and elucidation of common core experiences among fathers who had a premature baby. The findings demonstrated that the participants experienced intense fears regarding the survival and well-being of their children. They reported experiencing financial difficulties related to hospital bills and experienced being alienated by hospital institutions. Despite these reported barriers, these fathers were adamant in their resolve to support their children and partners during this challenging time. The experiences of fathers were riddled with fear, uncertainty, ambiguity and alienation, which placed them in very precarious situations when trying to navigate their role in a more sensitive and enlightened way. Having a premature infant calls into question the systems that men are positioned within as these systems to a large extent shape these events and how they are experienced. This study is original as no other published studies seem to exist in South Africa that speaks to fathers' lived experiences of having a premature baby.

South African fathers’ experiences with healthcare providers during their partners’ medically high-risk pregnancy and childbirth

Obstetric research in sub-Saharan Africa largely focuses on the material, physical, and psychosocial aspects of pregnancy and childbirth in relation to mothers. This research aimed to address a research gap in terms of fathers’ experiences of pregnancy and childbirth, particularly in the context of a medically high-risk pregnancy. Specifically, this article focuses on fathers’ interactions with the healthcare system and healthcare professionals throughout the antenatal and neonatal periods. This study was exploratory and qualitative in nature. Eight fathers whose partners had experienced at least one medically high-risk pregnancy participated in semi-structured interviews that were examined using interpretive phenomenological analysis. The findings indicate that fathers’ experiences vacillated between healthcare providers being supportive and informative versus them being uncompassionate and not conveying adequate information. Importantly, the distinctions were largely attributed to the type of healthcare facility (i.e. public or private) that was attended. This research offers recommendations to healthcare workers to enhance fathers’ experiences during pregnancy and childbirth, especially in potentially traumatic situations.

Young Black Fathers’ Perceptions of Fatherhood: A Family Systems Account

Within the historical context of South Africa, fathers are largely considered the breadwinner, an ideology linked to financial affordability. The breadwinner title may be a masculine boost for some but denotes a sense of disempowerment for those without financial muscle. This is especially true for young black South African fathers who are still confronting socio-historical challenges including continued high levels of unemployment. This qualitative study sought to explore how young black fathers perceive and understand fatherhood based on their individual experiences and given their socio-historical and cultural challenges. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and focus groups. Eight participants were selected through non-probability purposive sampling. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data with the foundation of a family systems theoretical framework. Findings indicated that the perception of fatherhood is constructed through (a) financial insecurity, (b) (un)expectancy and psychological distress, (c) shared responsibility, (d) cultural dynamics and (e) a renewed sense of self meaning. The study has added value in ensuring that the voices of young black fathers are captured through their lived experiences. The findings suggest that much investment is still required to understand the different angles and dynamics of young black fathers in South Africa.

Non-Resident, Not Absent: The Caregiving Role Non-Resident Fathers Play in Raising Their Children

ABSTRACT Although there is a strong belief in certain circles that fatherhood is best exercised in the context of a nuclear family, non-residential fatherhood is a growing phenomenon worldwide. In a South African context, the understanding of a family from a homogenous, dual-income, and co-resident lens disregards the emergence and prominence of the so-called non-traditional families. Studies in South Africa have also shown that co-residence is not always plausible or realistic. This article contributes to the growing understanding of the manifold caregiving roles that non-resident biological fathers play in the raising of their children over the life course. In-depth interviews were conducted with 23 black South African non-resident fathers aged 25–64 in Tshwane Municipality. The study found that non-resident fathers play a significant role in raising their children. This study makes an important contribution to dispelling two myths that have dominated fatherhood literature in the last few decades. First, the study dispels the myth that Black South African fathers’ especially non-resident fathers are irresponsible and are deadbeat. Second, the study showed that residence is a poor predictor of paternal involvement. The men in the study make sustained efforts to remain actively involved in the lives of their children. However, the findings also show that non-resident fathers frequently struggle to strike a balance between their many responsibilities and the societal expectations that their role as fathers must meet. Furthermore, non-resident fathers found it difficult to simultaneously adapt to their manifold roles of provider, nurturer, and moral guide.

Redefining Fatherhood in a Migratory Context: A Narrative Inquiry into the Experiences of African First-time Fathers in Belgium.

Many African fathers face practices in their host countries that conflict with the conceptions of fatherhood in their countries of origin. They deal with negative stereotypes, including notions of paternal irresponsibility when it comes to embracing child care. This article looks at how exposure to the Belgian norms of fatherhood may redefine the fatherhood practices of African first-time fathers residing in Belgium. Drawing on a qualitative narrative approach, this article explores the perceptions and experiences of African migrant fathers in Belgium and examines how they adapt to a different fathering culture. The findings show that while African first-time fathers acknowledged their primary role as providers, they also embraced new practices that transgress defined gender lines in African culture. In the absence of a larger family support network, respondents face the responsibility of providing prenatal and postnatal support and sharing in child care responsibilities. Findings also shed light on how African fathers with European partners engage in shared decision-making and negotiate on core African values such as male circumcision.

The impact of economic recession on the health of migrant fathers over time: results from the Growing up in Ireland longitudinal study

BackgroundThe relationship between economic conditions and health can depend on both the health outcome measured and the composition of the population. Analysis of outcomes by both ethnicity and country of birth has been recommended. The aim of our study is to explore the impact of recession on self-rated health and depression of migrant fathers in Ireland over time, considering both ethnicity and country of birth.MethodsLongitudinal data from waves of a population-representative cohort study (Growing up in Ireland, 2008–2013) was used with Wave 1 collected before the recession and Wave 2 collecting information on how the recession affected families. Socio-demographic variables, self-rated health and depression were compared across three groups of fathers classified by self-identified ethnicity and country of birth: White Irish (n = 5628), Other White European (EU-10) (n = 431), and Black African (n = 192) using chi-square tests and logistic regression models. Rates of follow-up were compared across groups at Wave 3.ResultsPrior to the recession, the rate of employment was lowest for African fathers (51% vs 81% for EU-10 fathers and 92% for Irish fathers, p < 0.001). At Wave 2, African families were more likely to have experienced a very significant effect of the recession (40.1% compared to 22.4% for families from EU-10 and 21.3% for Irish families, p < 0.001). However, the impact of the recession on depression and self-rated health was only found in Irish fathers. By Wave 3, rates of follow-up were lower for migrant fathers, particularly for EU-10 fathers.ConclusionsUnderstanding the relationship between economic conditions and health is complex and may be related to multiple dimensions of socio-economic advantage and disadvantage. African families were already more likely to be disadvantaged prior to the recession and that pattern persisted during the recession. Further research on attrition rates of migrants in population cohort studies is needed and the development of effective strategies for recruitment, follow-up and analysis.

“Let the Children Come to Me…For unto Them, the Kingdom of God Belongs” Mk 10:13-16: The Pastoral Challenges of this Invitation in African Church Today

Africa is blessed with an overwhelming population of young people, who in the words of the African Synod Fathers, constitute its “numerical strength” but unfortunately, these have been kept in the cold, marginalized, exploited for selfish aims, manipulated and misled by political demagogues (Mbuy, 2001). Against this kind of backdrop the Gospel of Mark 10: 13-16 offer us a concrete, practical and pastoral way of welcoming the young people as Jesus did and giving them a sense of belonging. When I look back at some experiences I am touched by the attitude of Jesus when he said, ‘let the children come to me’… and then I ask, how can the Church be available and say the same, ‘let the young people come to me’? Many young people want to encounter the Lord through different forms of apostolate but maybe there are no serious youth apostolates or they are lazy to things of God or they had dreadful experiences of not being allowed to get near Jesus. Why? Perhaps, it is the attitudes of Jesus’ disciples. In most of our Churches is this not the common attitude of some of our pastors? But Jesus irrespective of what and who they are said “Bring the children to me.”

South African Fathers Involvement and Their Adolescents' Sexual Risk Behavior and Alcohol Consumption.

Although considerable research has examined the influence of parent-adolescent relationships on the sexual health of adolescents, there is a great need for research to understand the influence of fathers on their children's HIV sexual risk behavior, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. We examined how the residence and the involvement of fathers are related to their children's HIV sexual risk and alcohol consumption behaviors. A cross-sectional survey was completed by 175 sixth-grade adolescents in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Analyses showed that adolescents living with their fathers had fewer sexual partners (B = -0.606, SE = 0.299, p = .043) and consumed alcohol less frequently (B = -0.642, SE = 0.294, p = .029). Adolescents who spent more quality days with their fathers in the past 30days had fewer sexual partners (B = -0.103, SE = 0.039, p = .008) and had condomless sex less frequently (B = -0.097, SE = 0.047, p = 0.041). It was also found that there were significant father-residence × child-gender interactions on sexual debut (B = 1.132, SE = 0.564, p = .045) and on frequency of condomless sex (B = -2.140, SE = 0.924, p = .021). These interactions indicate that boys living with their fathers were less likely to have had vaginal intercourse than girls and that girls living with their fathers were less likely to have unprotected sex than boys. This study highlights the importance of South African fathers' roles in their adolescent children's HIV sexual risk and alcohol drinking behaviors and the need to promote father-child relationships for adolescent health. The results suggest that health programs aiming to reduce South African adolescents' HIV sexual risk behaviors and alcohol consumption consider strategies that target their fathers.

Exploring Narratives of Three South African Fathers with Children in Care: Insights for Consideration

ABSTRACT The significance of fathers in the lives of their children is increasingly getting recognition worldwide, including in South Africa. However, critical gaps exist in the inclusion of fathers as child protection is maternally focussed and it seems to be a particular form of gatekeeping for fathers. This study engaged involved fathers on their inclusion and/or exclusion in identifying solutions toward their increased participation in relationship building with their children in a residential care facility. It this way, it also builds on family strengthening and reunification interventions. This was a qualitative study. Purposive sampling was applied and involved fathers with children in care were recruited by social workers. Using observation and interviews, three involved fathers were interviewed, and the data was analyzed using interpretive phenomenological analysis. The findings indicate that although fathers wanted to participate in the lives of their children, they felt alienated. Thus, a transformative gender-sensitive social work and gender-conscious practice with men is recommended through development of specialized models of working with men similar to approaches with and for marginalized clients. Improved engagement of fathers and enhancing father-mother-child relationships are crucial for transformative child welfare and family practice and toward family strengthening and reunification interventions.

What are the experiences of black African and African Caribbean men during the transition to fatherhood?

This study aimed to explore the experiences of men from African and African Caribbean heritage on transition to fatherhood and support received. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with eight black fathers living in the south east of England. Four themes were identified: preparation for fatherhood; experiences post birth; influences on ideas about fatherhood; and reflections on transition and suggestions for support for future fathers. While some fathers benefited from formal support, others did not attend antenatal classes and there was uncertainty around healthcare roles identified during the men's experiences post birth. Findings highlight the importance of extended family and friends in providing advice and the importance of culture in forming the identity of African fathers.

Towards a formulation of the fatherhood constellation: Representing absence

ABSTRACT In contrast with Daniel Stern’s extensive work on the motherhood constellation, very little has been written about the fatherhood constellation. In an effort to explore emergent fatherhood and the idea of the fatherhood constellation, psychoanalytic research interviews were conducted with white, middle-class South African fathers of infants. The findings highlight two central themes which offer a way to begin thinking about the nature of the fatherhood constellation. Firstly, the fatherhood constellation is constituted by the father’s wish to protect and support the mother and baby. Secondly, the fatherhood constellation is characterized by what fatherhood is not, as opposed to what it is to be a father. Unlike the mother, the father does not get pregnant, he does not give birth and he cannot breastfeed, all defining features of motherhood. This paper subsequently suggests that the representation of absence may be a key step to the father’s presence in his own mind.

Early African Christianity–A Thematic Analysis

This article is devoted to a thematic analysis of early or ancient African Christianity and its influence on ecclesial practices and thinking in contemporary Africa. Drawing on literature in the history of the church in antiquity this paper re-tells the story of how Africa and Africans in the first millennium developed and shaped World Christianity. Specifically, it discusses the contributions made to the early Church by the African Fathers of the faith, Origen and Augustine. The paper contest sentiments and perceptions that Christianity is a “white mans” religion and to reclaim African Christianity’s identity as a global religious culture which has existed since antiquity. Moreover, it argues that a lot is lost, with its attendant misinterpretations, when Christianity in Africa is only viewed as a result of the fruits of the nineteenth-century missionary activities. The paper contributes to the study of African Church history, the contextualisation/inculturation of the gospel, and African theology.

Beyond Remembering the Forgotten Parent: The Conception of the Father

While it is true that the father occupies the third position and that he is excluded from the mother-infant dyad, he does not have to be the “forgotten” parent, and, in the last few decades, there has been an increased interest in remembering the father. However, in both theory and practice, the focus seems to be on remembering the importance of the father for the mother and infant, while comparatively little attention has been given to the father himself. In particular, there is a lack of research on the father’s representation of himself as a father. In an effort to explore the representational world of the father, psychoanalytic research interviews were conducted with South African fathers whose infants were in the phase of pre-oedipal development. The findings suggest that, for the fathers in this research study, rudimentary and inchoate representations of the self as a father predominate until the father experiences his infant as actively responsive to him. At this point, the father appears to undergo a highly affective, internal reconstitution which binds him to his infant and which begins to enrich his representation of himself as a father. Through the mirroring gaze of the infant, the father is conceived.

Young people’s discursive constructions of fatherhood in South Africa

ABSTRACT The voices of young people remain, for the most part, under-considered within research on South African fathers. The present study relies on photo-elicitation interviews to explore how isiXhosa-speaking adolescents construct fathering roles and responsibilities in South Africa. Using discursive psychology, it was found that participants drew on the ‘Essential Fathering’ and ‘Social Fathering’ discourses to construct South African fatherhood. The discourses appeared to valorize biological fatherhood situated within the nuclear family, while - at the same time - valuing socialized paternal formations that need not be constituted biologically. It is suggested that although genuine paternal abandonment should not be excused, policy, parental programmes and legislation in South Africa must consider the voices of young people as well as the myriad parenting modalities that exist outside of hegemonic family forms.

Absent fathers’ socio-economic status and perceptions of fatherhood as related to developmental challenges faced by children in South Africa

Background: There has been increased attention to the problem of fathers’ absenteeism and fathers’ participation in the socio-educational development of children among scholars in South Africa in the last decade. Studies have been carried out on extent, causes and possible interventions for fathering in the country. The majority of these studies have adopted a qualitative research approach, which has limited their ability to determine scientifically the cause–effect relationships that exist among several factors identified as the causes and the problems generated by fathers’ absenteeism, hence this study. Aim: The aim is to determine which of the socio-economic factors as well as the fathers’ perception would significantly determine the challenges faced by the children. Setting: The study was carried out in one of the universities that have Foundation Phase teacher education programmes in Eastern Cape Province. Methods: Ex post facto research design was adopted to carry out this study. The sample of the study is 300 participants, out of which 43% are male and 57% are female participants; 78% of the teachers are black, 13% are white, 7% are mixed race and 2% are Indian. Results: There is a significant composite contribution of socio-economic factors and fathers’ perception on developmental challenges faced by the children ( F (6, 293) = 3.74; p < 0.05) among other findings. Conclusion: Inculcation of fathering skills in secondary schools for boys and establishment of a government agency that will ensure equal opportunities for socio-economic status of South African fathers irrespective of their race were recommended.

Umhlalaphansi and inkwari: teenage men’s accounts on becoming fathers

This paper explores how some South African teenage fathers in rural KwaZulu-Natal engage in heterosexual relationships. Drawing on findings from a qualitative based study with twenty teenage fathers aged between seventeen and nineteen years old, we examine how they talk about two highly sexualised gatherings – umhlalaphansi (an overnight Zulu dance ceremony) and inkwari (a weekend-long rave-like party). We find that these social and cultural gatherings provide opportunities to express gender and sexuality whilst simultaneously increasing the risk for early childbearing. Umhlalaphansi is produced at the cultural nexus which supports respect and cultural norms that prohibit sexual secrecy and unregulated sexuality. Paradoxically, umhlalaphansi is a key site in which teenage men and women engaged in courtships, sexual relationships and risky sexual conduct. Inkwari lacks cultural scripts and is based on partying, alcohol, drug use and engagement in spontaneous sexual encounters. We show how these two sites provide opportunities for young men to pursue sexuality in ways that are risky as they increase vulnerability for unplanned teenage fatherhood. Our conclusion provides some implications for school-based interventions to tackle sexual risk within rural contexts in South Africa.

Socio-educational development of pre-school children in Eastern Cape: Factors militating against fathers’ readiness to participate

Past studies on South African fathers’ less or non-involvement in their children’s development have either approached it qualitatively, with rural dwellers that are less educated than participants, or those that were quantitatively limited in terms of their focus and methodology. There is, therefore, a dearth of quantitative data on factors affecting South African fathers’ readiness to participate in their children’s development. It is precisely this realisation that has prompted this research paper. For this study, a descriptive survey research design with a sample of 300 university students was adopted. A questionnaire with a reliability coefficient of 0.78 was used to collect data, and both descriptive and inferential statistics were employed in the analysis at 0.05 level of significance. Absence of father at home (weighted average = 3.72), relationship with the mother of the child (weighted average = 3.63), and financial factors (weighted average = 3.46) are identified as those factors conspiring against South African fathers’ readiness, while fathering skills (weighted average = 3.41) are not one of these factors. The conclusion drawn, based on the findings of this research, is that counselling service units ought to be established in all communities in South Africa to work with families so as to help facilitate and maintain positive and cordial relationship amongst them. Keywords: childhood education; father-mother relationship; fathering skills; fathers’ participation; financial factor; gender; pre-school children; race; socio-education development

Exploring Low Levels of Inter-Parental Agreement Over South African Fathers’ Parenting Practices

High rates of residential separation of fathers and children in South Africa demand reliable methods of collecting data on the parenting practices of nonresident fathers. Using questionnaire data from matched mother–father pairs, we assessed the reliability of mother’s reports of father’s involvement in infant care as a proxy for father’s own reports. Agreement between parental reports was reasonable for father’s financial provisioning and time spent with the infant, but poor for father’s engagement in direct caregiving, decision-making responsibility, and assistance with household chores. Across a range of activities, fathers reported higher levels of involvement than were acknowledged by mothers. Disagreement over definitions of the underlying parenting practices being assessed and definitions of the response categories on the questionnaire appeared to contribute to low levels of overall agreement. Mother and father reports should not be treated interchangeably in research on father involvement. Ideally, future research will incorporate data from multiple observers.

Family Ties and Young Fathers' Engagement in Cape Town, South Africa.

Young South African fathers are often engaged in their children's lives even if they do not live together. Using longitudinal data on children (n = 1,209) from the Cape Town area, the authors show that although only 26% of young fathers live with their children, 66% of nonresidential fathers maintain regular contact, and 61% provide financial support. The father-child relationship, however, is embedded in broader family ties. The type of father-mother relationship is strongly associated with whether fathers coreside with their children, but not with fathers' contact with nonresidential children. Close mother and maternal grandmother bonds reduce the likelihood that fathers live with their children, whereas close ties between fathers and paternal grandmothers increase the chance that fathers visit nonresidential children. Family ties do not affect fathers' financial contributions, which are driven by men's current economic situation. These findings illustrate that father-child relationships are best understood in the context of interacting family systems.

Madness or Mysticism? The Unconscious Ascetics of Power and Hunger

Bessie Head's A Question of Power and Dambudzo Marechera's The House of Hunger present spiritual battles of a psychic rather than a psychological nature. Both novels rely on autobiographical protagonists who display an acute awareness of spiritual conflict. This manifests itself partially in their awareness of racism as a spiritual evil that responds to visible difference, but it moves beyond this awareness into a wider consciousness of states of being beyond empirical experience. This consciousness is not surprising from either an African traditional perspective, or from the perspective of any other form of mysticism, although empiricist readers have attempted to rationalise and categorise it. Even without training in ascetic practices, the protagonists of Marechera and Head experience visions which evoke those of the North African Desert Fathers, including St Antony. This paper raises the possibility that both Head and Marechera display awareness of existence, and conflict, in a spiritual dimension, and that this conflict takes on particular physical dimensions. The argument in Foucault's Madness and Civilization is applied to show how the diagnosis, or even suspicion, of insanity serves to isolate and alienate, and thus to obscure valid critiques of the nature of power in society, particularly in a post-colonial context.