Paternal involvement of Singaporean fathers within six months postpartum: A follow-up qualitative study

Objective: This study aims to understand paternal involvement within the six-month postpartum period to identify the challenges and needs of Singaporean fathers. Design: The study used a descriptive qualitative design. Setting and Participants: This research is a follow-up study of 50 first-time and experienced fathers who were originally interviewed in the early postpartum period. Fathers were recruited from a local public hospital in Singapore. Measurements: Individual semi-structured interviews using an interview guide were conducted at six months postpartum with the fathers. The interview recordings were transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis. Results: Four major themes emerged from the analysis: (1) fathers’ understanding of their involvement at six months postpartum, (2) challenges of paternal involvement, (3) impact on marital relationship, and (4) needs of fathers. The respondent fathers were determined to be motivated differently during this timepoint as compared to at one week postpartum, but hindrances from work commitments and the presence of support limited paternal involvement. Strained marital relationship and sexual needs surfaced in this study. One father reported to be at risk for depression. Co-parenting practices buffered against marital dissatisfaction. Moreover, the informational needs of fathers differed at one week and six months postpartum. Key Conclusions: This follow-up study revealed that the concerns and needs of fathers continue to emerge in accordance with their infants’ growth and needs in different postpartum periods. Necessary assistance in the form of long-term follow-ups and online educational resources may be dynamic in supporting the emerging needs of fathers. Implications for practice: Healthcare professionals should engage in interventions that are dynamic in suiting fathers’ needs at different time points and cultural contexts.