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The perinatal period, which covers the time when a man’s partner becomes pregnant through to the first year after birth can be a time of great excitement, happiness, and joy. However, it can also be a time of great disruption and change. Despite the positive and protective long-term effect that fatherhood has on men’s health, a significant proportion of fathers’ experience depressive symptoms during the perinatal period. This paper aims to review studies that assessed symptoms of depression in fathers during the perinatal period and to describe the prevalence estimates, identify the risk factors and impact of depression, and establish if there are interventions that effectively reduce depression among fathers. A systematic search of relevant electronic databases including Medline, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, PsycARTICLES, PsycINFO, and Psychology and Behavioural Sciences Collection were searched using keywords related to paternal perinatal depression. Prevalence estimates of paternal perinatal depression varied widely between studies, ranging from 1 to 46%. Several sociodemographic variables that contribute to depression in fathers in the perinatal period were reported and these include paternal age, lower education levels, parity, an unplanned pregnancy, and maternal depression. Paternal perinatal depression is associated with morbidity within the father’s family, including depression in his partner, maladjustment to parenthood and future psychological problems in his children. In conclusion, evidence from this review adds further support for the need to review how we plan, provide and resource our health services, to recognize the influence that pregnancy, birth, and fatherhood in the perinatal period can have on men’s mental health.

Background: Public health, primary health care, and nursing are founding principles of public health nursing. Thus, the underpinning curriculum needs to reflect these core principles. Public health nursing educators sought to delve deeper into curricula and training of public health nurse (PHNs) in Ireland and Norway. Objective: To compare PHNs’ educational training in Ireland and Norway through a collaborative process. Design: This study used a descriptive comparative design. Sample: A panel of expert educators (the authors) compared national Public health nursing education strategies, guidelines, and curricula used to train PHN students. Results: Four core categories emerged from the analysis: general characteristics, theoretical and empirical knowledge base for PHNs practice, applying theory to clinical practice, and professional/ethical dimensions for practice. Results revealed more similarities than differences in both countries’ educational models. The central difference related to the specialist role in Norway versus the generalist role in Ireland. Conclusions: Workforce requirements drive the delivery of Public Health Nursing programs and educational curricula. However, it is imperative that educators evaluate their curricula in terms of fitness and practice, not just purpose.

Background The Public Health Intervention Wheel (PHIW) is a population-based practice model that encompasses three levels of practice (community, systems, and individual/family) and 17 public health interventions. Each intervention and practice level contributes to improving population health. Public health nurses (PHNs) provide care at the three levels of practice. Prevention of falls is a public health issue and the majority of falls happen at home. Therefore, prevention and management of falls in the community could benefit from a public health systems approach by PHNs underpinned by the PHIW. Case presentation A hypothetical case is presented of a 78-year-old gentleman who had a fall which resulted in a fractured right acetabulum and surgery before being discharged home. Methods The aim of this paper was to use a case summary to illustrate PHN practice in the context of the PHIW as applied to falls management and prevention. This paper focuses on fall incidence and PHN response in Ireland and Norway. The PHIW is described and relevant interventions from the PHIW are applied to PHN practice in managing the case. Conclusions The PHIW model provides insight into the potential scope of public health nursing in falls, articulating PHN practice in the community.

Background it is well established that fatherhood has a long term positive and protective effect on men's health. However, there is also evidence that the transition to fatherhood can be complex and demanding and can lead to distress, anxiety and increased risk of depression. Objective this study aimed to investigate the prevalence of paternal postnatal depression, and to examine associations with a range of demographic and clinical factors. Methods a cross-sectional study design was used to collect primary data from 100 fathers, whose partner gave birth to an infant in the previous 12 months. Data were collected using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. Results the prevalence of paternal postnatal depression was 12% using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale cut off score of 12 or above, when the cut off score was reduced to 9 or above the prevalence was 28%. The factors found to increase the risk of paternal postnatal depression included having an infant with sleep problems, a previous history of depression, a lack of social support, poor economic circumstances, not having paternity leave and not being married. Conclusion the results add to the growing body of evidence that paternal postnatal mental health is a significant public health issue, and indicates a need for assessment and support for fathers during this life stage.

Background: Fatherhood in the perinatal period can be a time of great excitement, happiness and joy. However, a growing body of literature indicates that fathers are at risk for elevated levels of anxiety symptoms during the perinatal period. Purpose: The purpose of this systematic review is to determine the prevalence and levels of anxiety in fathers during the perinatal period, identify the risk factors and impact of anxiety, and establish if there are effective interventions that reduce father's anxiety. Design: Systematic review. Methods: A systematic review protocol was developed and registered with PROSPERO (reference number: CRD42017073760). The review was guided by the PRISMA reporting process. Electronic databases Medline, CINAHL, Embase, the Cochrane Library, PsycARTICLES, PsycINFO, and Psychology were searched to identify eligible studies. Studies that researched fathers during the perinatal period were included if anxiety was the primary focus of the research or was an outcome or dependent variable. Data were extracted and presented in narrative form including tables and figures. Findings: Thirty-four studies met the inclusion criteria. Findings from these studies indicate that fathers experience anxiety in the perinatal period, particularly at the time of birth. Anxiety increased from the antenatal period to the time of birth, with a decrease in anxiety from the time of birth to the later postnatal period. The prevalence of anxiety ranged between 3.4% and 25.0% during the antenatal period and 2.4% and 51.0% during the postnatal period. Factors contributing to anxiety included lower education levels, lower income levels, lower co-parenting support, lower social support, work-family conflict, a partner’ anxiety and depression, and being present during a previous birth. Anxiety had a negative impact on fathers’ mental health, physical health, social relationships and parenting skills. Anxiety contributed to stress, depression, fatigue and lower paternal self-efficacy. Five studies reported on interventions to reduce anxiety and all the studies found that anxiety significantly decreased following the intervention. Key conclusion: Fathers experience increased anxiety from the antenatal period to the time of birth, with a decrease in anxiety from the time of birth to the later postnatal period. Anxiety during the perinatal period that can impact negatively on fathers physical and mental health, and social relationships.

Over the past 3 decades, there has been a growing awareness and concern about the burden of ill health experienced by men, and research has shown that fatherhood has a protective effect on men's health. However, there is also evidence that the transition to fatherhood can be complex and demanding, with many fathers feeling inadequately equipped as they begin their journey. This can cause distress, anxiety and increased risk of depression. With a prevalence of approximately 10%, paternal postnatal depression (PPND) is a real and significant public health issue. However, PPND is not widely acknowledged nor well researched. In general, the mental health of fathers in the postnatal period is often not considered. This has resulted in men being underscreened, underdiagnosed and undertreated for PPND and other postnatal mental health problems. The need to address the problem is highlighted by the detrimental effects that PPND can have on a father's health, as well as the numerous potential negative effects on the health and wellbeing of the woman and child. Key findings from research undertaken in relation to PPND have identified maternal depression, poor social support and a lack of education as contributing factors.

Close your eyes and take a moment to think about postnatal depression (PND). What comes into your mind? What images present themselves? Historically, PND has typically been associated with women. It has also been perceived as a product of biological causes. Consequently, most of the research to date has focused on mothers. However, researchers now conceptualise that PND is also the product of psychosocial causes such as sleep disturbance, relationship conflict and financial strain. It can therefore be presumed that such factors would also impact on the mental health of fathers or male partners in the postnatal period. The study of Paternal Postnatal Depression (PPND) is still in its infancy. However, an understanding of the problem has advanced considerably over the last ten years. The transition and adaptation to fatherhood is considered one of the most acute transformations experienced during a man’s life. The experience is influenced by personal, infant ...

Background despite the evidence that fatherhood has a long-term positive and protective effect on men's health, there is also evidence that fatherhood in the perinatal period can be complex and demanding. Due to the potential increase in stressors in the perinatal period, there is reason to hypothesise that it is a time of increased stress for fathers. However, it is not clear how significant a problem stress is for fathers during this stage of life. This is in part, due to the fact that the available research has not been systematically reviewed. Purpose the purpose of this systematic review was to critically appraise the empirical evidence that examined stress in fathers in the perinatal period. Design systematic review. Methods a systematic review protocol was developed and registered with PROSPERO (Reference number: CRD42016035821). The review was guided by the PRISMA reporting process. Electronic databases Medline, CINAHL, the Cochrane Library, PsycARTICLES, PsycINFO, Psychology and Behavioural Sciences Collections were searched to identify studies that met the inclusion criteria. Studies that researched fathers in the perinatal period were included if stress was the principal focus of the research, if stress was in the title and/or aim of the study or if stress was an outcome or dependent variable. Data were extracted and presented in narrative form including tables and figures. Findings eighteen studies met the inclusion criteria. The findings indicate that fathers experience stress in the perinatal period, particularly at the time of birth. Stress levels were found to increase from the antenatal period to the time of birth, with a decrease in stress levels from the time of birth to the later postnatal period. There are a number of factors that contribute to stress in fathers in the perinatal period and these included negative feelings about the pregnancy, role restrictions related to becoming a father, fear of childbirth and feelings of incompetence related to infant care. The review found that stress has a negative impact on fathers, with higher stress levels contributing to mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, psychological distress and fatigue. Key conclusion during the perinatal period fathers experience stress and face unique stressors that can impact negatively on their health and social relationships.