Birth
Volume 43, Issue 1, 2016, Pages 86-92

Fatherhood in a New Country: A Qualitative Study Exploring the Experiences of Afghan Men and Implications for Health Services (Article)

Riggs E.* , Yelland J. , Szwarc J. , Wahidi S. , Casey S. , Chesters D. , Fouladi F. , Duell-Piening P. , Giallo R. , Brown S.
  • a Healthy Mothers Healthy Families Research Group, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia, General Practice and Primary Health Care Academic Centre, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
  • b Healthy Mothers Healthy Families Research Group, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia, General Practice and Primary Health Care Academic Centre, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
  • c Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture, Brunswick, VIC, Australia
  • d Healthy Mothers Healthy Families Research Group, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia
  • e Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture, Brunswick, VIC, Australia
  • f Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture, Brunswick, VIC, Australia
  • g Healthy Mothers Healthy Families Research Group, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia
  • h Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture, Brunswick, VIC, Australia
  • i Healthy Mothers Healthy Families Research Group, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia
  • j Healthy Mothers Healthy Families Research Group, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia, General Practice and Primary Health Care Academic Centre, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia, School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia

Abstract

Background: Fathers of refugee background are dealing with multiple, interrelated stressors associated with forced migration and establishing their lives in a new country. This has implications for the role of men in promoting the health and well-being of their families. Methods: Afghan community researchers conducted interviews with 30 Afghan women and men who had recently had a baby in Australia. Interviews and focus groups were conducted with health professionals working with families of refugee background. Results: Fourteen men, 16 women, and 34 health professionals participated. Afghan men reported playing a major role in supporting their wives during pregnancy and postnatal care, accompanying their wives to appointments, and providing language and transport support. Although men embraced these roles, they were rarely asked by health professionals about their own concerns related to their wife's pregnancy, or about their social circumstances. Perinatal health professionals queried whether it was their role to meet the needs of men. Conclusion: There are many challenges for families of refugee background navigating maternity services while dealing with the challenges of settlement. There is a need to move beyond a narrow conceptualization of antenatal and postnatal care to encompass a broader preventive and primary care approach to supporting refugee families through the period of pregnancy and early years of parenting. Pregnancy and postnatal care needs to be tailored to the social and psychological needs of families of refugee background, including men, and incorporate appropriate language support, in order to improve child and family health outcomes. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Author Keywords

qualitative methods Father's health Refugee background Maternity services

Index Keywords

role playing information processing Health Personnel Afghanistan refugee Australia health care personnel human Refugees health service Role ethnology Fathers qualitative research Health Services Needs and Demand Humans Infant, Newborn male female Infant newborn pregnancy Parenting father adult child health care Child Health Services postnatal care Focus Groups maternal health service Maternal Health Services Health Services Accessibility child parent relation health care delivery
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84958581553&doi=10.1111%2fbirt.12208&partnerID=40&md5=9343de32f7dbffe77293ffc5d684a247
DOI: 10.1111/birt.12208
ISSN: 07307659
Cited by: 6
Original Language: English