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The purpose of this secondary analysis of qualitative data was to understand the multifactorial influences that impact the health and health behaviors of Hispanic adolescent fathers Qualitative description was the method used for this secondary analysis. The theoretical domains of the Vulnerable Populations Conceptual Framework were used to guide this study. The semi-structured interviews of 17 participants were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Participants were Hispanic adolescent fathers, between the ages of 16 and 23 years, who were attending a fatherhood program. Most participants came from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds and unstable families. Additionally, their exposure to widespread neighborhood and domestic violence resulted in gang involvement and illegal activities. The cumulative impact of adverse childhood events resulted in substance use and psychological distress. However, becoming a father was transformative, motivating adolescents to stop engaging in destructive, unhealthy behaviors. Adolescent fathers' well-being is an important component of perinatal health because it affects family functioning and health outcomes in their children. The perinatal period presents a "golden" opportunity to promote health and should be leveraged by nurses to allow adolescent fathers to become involved during the perinatal period. A family-centered approach is critical in addressing the complex needs of this population. An assessment of their psychosocial environment, including childhood trauma, is necessary to help nurses identify at-risk fathers. Additionally, trauma informed care is a valuable tool that nurses can utilize to foster trust in Hispanic adolescent fathers. • Hispanic adolescent fathers are an understudied and underserved population. •.Nurses can become involved in delivering father-inclusive programs that focus on coparenting and conflict resolution with significant others • Programs should offer services that aid young fathers in mental health, substance use, gang desistance, employment, and educational attainment • Training in trauma informed care is indicated to facilitate trust among Hispanic adolescent fathers with histories of childhood trauma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adolescent parents are vulnerable to dating abuse, yet few studies have investigated abuse experienced by adolescent fathers. The purpose of the present study was to explore adolescent fathers' perceptions of the dating abuse victimization they experienced by the mothers of their children. Twelve in-depth interviews with predominately Hispanic fathers were analyzed using thematic analysis methods. The most common themes to emerge from the narratives were emotional abuse, social control, using the children (i.e., threatening to take the child away or refusing to let the fathers see their child), and physical abuse. The fathers outlined a series of subthemes within each larger theme in order to provide rich descriptions of their experiences. Findings suggest that, just as adolescent parents are at a crossroads of developmental tasks, they are also experiencing abusive behaviors found in both adolescent (social control) and adult (using the children) relationships. Implications for research and practice are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Objective: to examine how adolescent fathers experience recurring parenthood. Design: qualitative study with a social phenomenological focus. Participants: five fathers between 16 and 19 years of age, each with two children. Findings: the participants perceived themselves as mature, responsible, worried about the care and education of their children, and desiring a secure future life. These factors made them seek employment, their own home, marital stability, construction of a family and return to school. They experienced the ambivalence of desiring one reality and living another, given that, as adolescent parents, they regretted the loss of their freedom. Key conclusions: recurring parenthood in adolescence is a complex phenomenon, with many possible perceptions. The diverse experiences depend on the social context that is defined by the wishes, plans, possibilities and meanings of each distinct social class. Implications for practice: care delivery to these adolescents should consider not only theoretical and chronobiological aspects, but also the experiences of these young people and the psychosocial and cultural factors involved in their fatherhood. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of a fatherhood program on risk behaviors among three groups of young fathers: those still in school (21%), those who had dropped out (52%), and those who graduated from high school or completed a GED (27%). The sample consisted of 198 young fathers who participated in a school-linked multiservice community program. Data on demographic characteristics and risk behaviors such as cigarette smoking, substance use, and contraceptive use were gathered upon the men's entry into the program and at three months and six months after the program had ended. The results indicated that overall, young fathers who were still in school had lower rates of substance use and legal problems than did school dropouts and graduates at intake, and decreased use of alcohol and problems with the law at six months. However, over the course of the study, contraceptive and condom use was inconsistent among all groups. These findings suggest that school attendance could act as a protective factor and thus that the school years might be the optimal time to address risk behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]