About the authors
- 1. Sarmad Muhammad Soomar is a faculty member and Director, Research at the School of Nursing and Midwifery, AKU Pakistan. He has been closely working on men’s health, emotional wellbeing and masculinity studies as an emerging field of healthcare and health systems in Pakistan. His expertise in gender integration and transformative approaches in health.
- 2. Uzair Ali is a coronary care registered nurse at The Aga Khan Hospital Karachi, Pakistan, with a passion in research, community services and evidence-based body fitness.
Fathers
were needed and are needed!
Fathers play a central role in health promotion within families, yet their own health is often overlooked in this process. When fathers are mentally well; emotionally regulated, supported, and able to cope with stress, they are more likely to engage in positive parenting practices such as open communication, active involvement in children’s wellbeing, and modeling healthy behaviors. This creates a ripple effect where children benefit from safer, more supportive home environments, and healthier lifestyle choices are reinforced. However, when fathers experience untreated stress, anxiety, or depression, it can reduce their capacity to provide consistent care and may negatively influence family dynamics and health outcomes. Recognizing men’s mental health, especially during June’s focus on men’s mental health awareness, is therefore essential not only for fathers themselves but also as a foundational element of effective family-centered health promotion.
We have studied and worked on Fahey and Shenassa's Perinatal Maternal Health Promotion Model (PMHPM) which connects with this idea and offers an important placement for understanding and improving paternal with maternal health outcomes by stressing empowerment, environment, and services (1, 2). However, as prenatal health science advances, the critical but often underappreciated role of fathers need further incorporation into this approach. Evidence notices that male involvement enhances family dynamics, newborn related health outcomes, and supports the goal of healthy motherhood. This is also strengthened when fathers dive into the role properly and they have better emotional hygiene (2, 3).
Fahey
and Shenassa's PMHPM (see below), have focused primarily on the mother, with
the father's role mainly less focused or not clear. This exclusion stems from
conventional gender roles, in which maternal health was perceived as
predominantly the mother's responsibility, with engagement of a father, usually
considered secondary (4). The cultural inclination to identify childbirth and
early childhood development with women has perpetuated a maternal-centric
approach, undervaluing fathers' emotional, psychological, and caregiving
responsibilities. Furthermore, health systems have traditionally provided
little services and support to fathers, thus marginalizing their participation
(5).
Perinatal Maternal Health Promotion Model
As a result, the absence of a father-inclusive perspective in health models has restricted understanding of the tremendous impact that paternal support can have on the health of mothers and the outcomes of childbirth. The lack of awareness about perinatal health disregards the dynamic role both parents play in the family's well-being because of this neglect. Altering PMHPM to explicitly include the father's role would increase its applicability and significance (6).
Father-role
attainment
Father-role attainment is the process by which fathers adapt and participate in their caregiving roles during the perinatal period. This procedure is critical to the father's and family's well-being since it promotes connection, emotional support, and shared responsibility. According to research, fathers who actively participate in pregnancy and early childcare have better psychological adjustment, stronger bonds with their infants, and higher levels of satisfaction with their fatherly role. Additionally, father-role attainment has been linked to improved maternal well-being, as fathers' emotional and practical support reduces maternal stress and promotes healthier family dynamics (6, 7) When fathers participate in prenatal care activities such as medical appointments and educational programs, they feel more confident in their roles, which contributes to better maternal health outcomes and encourages positive developmental pathways for the infant (6, 7). Despite the importance of fatherhood, many fathers struggle fully to embrace this position due to cultural expectations, limited paternity leave legislation, and a lack of customized healthcare resources. According to research, fathers in various cultures are frequently excluded from perinatal health education, leading to feelings of inadequacy and isolation (7).
The lack of parental assistance during prenatal and postnatal care can lead to mental health concerns such as paternal depression and affect the bonding process between fathers and their infants. As a result, it is critical to provide interventions that help fathers achieve their tasks by boosting paternal engagement, teaching fathers about their roles, and strengthening healthcare regulations that support father-inclusive practices. This would result in a more equitable division of tasks and improve the general health and well-being of both parents and their children (8).
The
End!
The inclusion of the father's involvement in Fahey and Shenassa's Perinatal Maternal Health Promotion Model is a significant opportunity to boost overall family health. Fathers are not just peripheral figures in the perinatal journey; their emotional, practical, and advocacy activities have a substantial impact on maternal healing, infant development, and overall family dynamics. Recent research shows that empowering fathers through education, emotional support, and conducive circumstances improves outcomes for mothers, infants, and fathers themselves. Healthcare practitioners can promote increased father’s engagement without imposing unrealistic standards by setting realistic expectations and recognizing the structural barriers that fathers confront.
References
1.
Fahey, J. O., & Shenassa, E. (2013). Understanding and
meeting the needs of women in the postpartum period: The Perinatal Maternal
Health Promotion Model. Journal of Midwifery & Women’s Health, 58(6),
613–621. https://doi.org/10.1111/jmwh.12053
2.
Soomar, S. M. (2018) Ensuring Holistic Health Promotion for
Better Post-Partum Period Using “The Perinatal Maternal Health Promotion
Model”. Perceptions in Reproductive Medicine. 2 (4)
3.
Hansson, H., Ahlborg, T., & Hensing, G. (2020).
Fatherhood and health outcomes: A scoping review. PLOS ONE, 15(11),
e0241958. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0241958
4.
Darwin, Z., Galdas, P., Hinchliff, S., Littlewood, E.,
McMillan, D., McGowan, L., & Gilbody, S. (2021). Fathers’ views and
experiences of their own mental health during pregnancy and the first postnatal
year: A qualitative systematic review. BMJ Open, 11(4), e045792.
https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2020-045792
5.
Tichelman, E., Westerneng, M., Witteveen, A. B., van Baar,
A. L., & de Jonge, A. (2019). Correlates of prenatal and postnatal
mother-to-infant bonding quality: A systematic review. PLOS ONE, 14(9),
e0222998. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0222998
6.
Chin, R., Daiches, A., & Hall, P. (2021). A qualitative
exploration of first-time fathers’ experiences of becoming a father. Community
Practitioner, 94(7), 36–40.
7.
Alio, A. P., Salihu, H. M., Kornosky, J. L., Richman, A. M.,
& Marty, P. J. (2019). Feto-infant health and survival: Does paternal
involvement matter? Maternal and Child Health Journal, 23(5), 597–603. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-019-02711-4
8. Leigh, B., & Milgrom, J. (2021). Risk factors for antenatal depression, postnatal depression and parenting stress. BMC Psychiatry, 21(1), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-021-03149-7
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