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Adolescent fathers: knowledge of and involvement in the breast feeding process in Brazil
- Source :
- Midwifery. 30(3)
- Publication Year :
- 2011
-
Abstract
- Objective to understand the ways in which adolescent fathers participate in the breast feeding process in the family environment in North-eastern Brazil. Methods a descriptive, exploratory, qualitative study was undertaken involving 10 couples with infants aged 6–8 months living in a single community in Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews with questions to guide the interviewer. Data were analysed using thematic content analysis, and interpreted under the theoretical reference of being an adolescent father within the context of breast feeding. Findings from the data collected, three themes were identified: knowledge of the benefits of breast feeding for the child's health; discontinued participation of the father in breast feeding during the pregnancy–childbearing cycle; and exclusion of the adolescent father from the breast feeding process. The adolescent fathers knew about the benefits of breast feeding in terms of the child's health, but did not mention benefits for the mother, the family or society. For some adolescent fathers, their participation in the breast feeding process started during pregnancy, whereas for others, it was only initiated after the infant was born. One of the fathers was prevented, by his wife and mother-in-law, from participating in the breast feeding process. Conclusions the involvement of adolescent fathers in the breast feeding process oscillated during the pregnancy–childbearing cycle. This may be due to the patriarchal cultural heritage, Brazilian paternity laws, and the fact that these fathers were adolescents. This study showed that adolescent parents were knowledgeable about breast feeding. Finally, fathers want a new model of parenting in which the man participates in child care.
- Subjects :
- Male
Postnatal Care
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Adolescent
media_common.quotation_subject
Population
Breastfeeding
Developing country
Context (language use)
Midwifery
Developmental psychology
Fathers
Young Adult
Pregnancy
Maternity and Midwifery
Medicine
Wife
Humans
skin and connective tissue diseases
education
Father-Child Relations
media_common
education.field_of_study
business.industry
Infant, Newborn
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Breast Feeding
Adolescent Behavior
Female
Thematic analysis
business
Breast feeding
Brazil
Qualitative research
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 15323099
- Volume :
- 30
- Issue :
- 3
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Midwifery
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....a9faa4031d59486e76e909609015edb8