Father involvement, maternal depression and child nutritional outcomes in Soweto, South Africa

Dados Bibliográficos

ID15535541
AutoresRoisin E Drysdale (0000-0003-0409-9549, University of the Witwatersrand, autor correspondente), Wiedaad Slemming (0000-0002-1566-8228, University of the Witwatersrand), Tawanda Makusha (0000-0003-2120-8989, University of the Witwatersrand), L M Richter (0000-0002-3654-3192, University of the Witwatersrand)
Ano2021
Volume17
FascículoS1
Páginase13177-e13177
Data de publicação2021-07-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoMaternal and Child Nutrition (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 1740-8695 • E-ISSN: 1740-8709
EditoraWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/mcn.13177
PMID34241955
OpenAlexW3177600705
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas19
Referências citadas63

Father involvement in South Africa is low, despite evidence that it can improve maternal and child health and wellbeing. Within a larger randomised controlled trial, we assessed whether father involvement during and after pregnancy increased birth weight and exclusive breastfeeding through improved maternal mental health. At 6-week postnatal, mothers completed questionnaires on birth, feeding practices, social support, father involvement and postnatal depression. Father involvement during pregnancy was measured by their attendance at antenatal care and the study intervention, whereas postnatal involvement was measured by attendance at antenatal care and type of paternal support provided. Structural equation modelling was used to identify associations between father involvement, maternal depression, low birth weight and exclusive breastfeeding. Among the 212 mother-baby pairs, father involvement was very low with only 43%, 33% and 1% of partners attending early ultrasound, antenatal care and the birth of the child, respectively. Twenty-nine percent of the mothers showed signs of depression during pregnancy, compared with 7% after birth. Eighteen percent of the infants were born low birth weight, and 57% of mothers reported exclusively breastfeeding at 6 weeks. Father involvement was directly associated with postnatal depression, but it did not directly or indirectly impact exclusive breastfeeding or low birth weight. We conclude that postnatal father involvement can improve postnatal maternal depression and that men would benefit from specific guidance on how they can support mothers during and after pregnancy

Attendance · Birth weight · Breastfeeding · Depression (economics · Low birth weight · Obstetrics · Postnatal Care · Pregnancy · Social support · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health · Breastfeeding Practices and Influences · Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum · Medicine · Psychology · Pediatrics