RAJIV GANDHI UNIVERSITY OF HEALTH SCIENCES,
BANGLORE,KARNATAKA.
SYNOPSIS ON
A planned teaching program to assess the knowledge of Fathers in rearing infant (0-1 year) attending under- five clinics of selected hospital at Tumkur.
SUBMITTED BY:
JASPREET KAUR
M.Sc NURSING 1st YEAR(PAEDIATRICS)
SHRIDEVI COLLEGE OF NURSING,
TUMKUR, KARNATAKA.
Synopsis for registration of dissertation
1. Name and address of the candidate : JASPREET KAUR
Address : First year M.Sc. (N)
Shridevi Institute of nursing, Sira road , Lingapura, TUMKUR- 6
2. Name of the Institution : Shridevi Institute of nursing
3. Course of study and subject : M.Sc. (N), Paediatric Nursing
4. Date of admission : 17-10-2009
5. Title of Topic : A planned teaching program to assess the knowledge of Fathers in rearing infant (0-1 year) attending under- five clinics of selected hospital at Tumkur.
6. Brief resume of intended work
6.1 Introduction
Families are the primary groups usually described as a number of people living in a single house hold tied by bonds of marriage, Blood or deep commitments. They have the ability to solve all their basic problems. It is generally considered that parenting of infant is related almost entirely to mothering. Men it is considered are usually not prepared to play the role of fathers, either due to lack of knowledge or social pressure not to become involved in “women’s work”. Basically the role of the father is to provide for daily needs and personal security. The relationship between the father and the child is often considered to be a secondary social bond. But recent studies (Karin 2003, Hall 2000, Joanne 2001) have concluded that fathering is an important role and contributes to infant growth and development through the ability of the father to attach to and nurture the child.(1)
The changing societal beliefs about gender roles and parenting responsibilities have promoted greater attention to the male, who previously had been excluded from consideration in the reproductive and child rearing process (Jordean 1999)(2). Surprisingly, Society still doesn’t provide a clear description of the father’s role, which includes physical care, a high level of father child interaction, and emotional nurturing of the infant (Cronewet and Wilson 2005)(3).
If one understands the changes which occur in the father because of his transition to parenthood, one can understand and prepare him better for the performance of his role.
In India, child rearing is not recognized as an independent job –it is just one of the house hold chores. Its methodology is adopted by every mother as a part of the knowledge inherited from the older generation. Women are expected to be ideal wives and mothers as though husbands and fathers have no obligations or roles to play.
In modern society, women is said to be “equal” to men. The societal change, urbanization and industrialization, the traditional role of mother has change noticeably. They are out in every sphere of life with their husbands to share their responsibilities at the cost of their children’s welfare. (Shrivastava 2000)(4)
Thus, it is established that there is a great need to understand the human experience of the expectant and new father better to promote the father’s desired level of involvement in the responsibilities, especially the child rearing process, and support him in his transition to a level of successful parenthood.
6.2 Need of study
In the past men and women have become accustomed to play different role as parents. Women have been expected to assume the task of the principal care taker.
Traditionally the Father’s role is restricted to that of a provider and fathers have been expected to remain remote from the nurturing role. With the gradual change in society, men are expected not only to fulfil the role of a provider but also to nurture and care for their children.
The socialization process is viewed as necessary to help fathers achieve this dual role, which has not been practised because of a lack of both cultural and institutional support. It is necessary to understand that the average man has very little idea of what is expected of him and that it imposes a greater amount of responsibility on a father of a first child.
In today’s modern and fast changing society there are a number of families where both partners are working outside their homes. In doing so both are required to share the total responsibilities of the home, especially those of rearing and caring for the children. It is important to note that the joint family system provides a certain social security, especially to grand children, which is difficult to provide in the nuclear family.
Hall (2000) did a qualitative study attempting to redefine roles and to explore the experience of working men whose spouses return to work shortly after the birth of their first infant. He concluded that women experienced “role strain” after returning from work. They didn’t have the time and energy to meet the expectations that arouse from the increased unmet needs.(5)
On seeing tender aged children spending their time playing in the corridors with in the hospital, the investigator asked their adult attendants the reason for bringing their children and infants with them inside hospital and there by exposing them to infection. Almost all adult attendants replied by describing an identical situation that their mothers were admitted in the hospital and there being no one else at home to look after the infants/children, there was no other choice left open for them.
Thus investigator felt the need for studying and exploring systematically more about the father’s role in rearing and caring during the upbringing of infants and children. It is believed that if the present study can contribute significant knowledge and emphasise the importance of an active paternal care role in child rearing and caring it will be a worth while effort.
6.3 Review of literature
The review of literature is an essential step in the development of a research project as it reveals the correlated and existing knowledge in the area under study. The review of literature helped the investigator to gain more knowledge regarding methodologies and tool construction and to become familiar with the findings of the few studies conducted in the area(6).
1. Research studies
a) Experience of fathers and fatherhood.
b) Father-infant attachment.
c) Experience of men and women-comparison.
2. Non-research literature
a) Article
1. RESEARCH STUDIES
a) EXPERIENCE OF FATHERS AND FATHERHOOD
Lee Ann (2003) did a descriptive study without hypothesis in an effort to determine how expectant fathers define fathering, how they prepared for fathering, and their feelings about fatherhood. In this study fathering was defined as a process of providing , directly or indirectly, for the physical, emotional, spiritual and psychological needs of one’s offsprings. No effort was made to control the variables of age , race and socio-economic status. Ages ranged 25 to 40 years with a mean age of 27. All fathers expect one were employed full time. Interview schedules were used and items were divided in to four categories. The major roles subsumed in fathering were bread winner/provider(39%) nurturer/care-giver(21%).
The fathers in this study support the view that fathering and mothering are complimentary processes, each with unique aspects . Eighty-five percent expressed the view that fathers played different roles than mothers. Sixty-five percent expected to have responsibilities in child-rearing which were different from their wives(7).
Park and Sawin (2001) did a series of observation studies over five years to describe the nature of the father’s interactions with the new born infant. These observations were made in the mother’s hospital room between 6 and 48 hours after the delivery of the couple’s first infant. The results indicated that fathers voluntarily tended to hold and rock the infant more than mothers.
A group of lower class fathers were also observed:
- alone with their infant.
- in the presence of mother.
The results revealed that-
a) The mother’s presence is not necessary for father’s active involvement.
b) Fathers fed the child significantly less than the mothers when they were alone with the
baby.
c) Fathers vocalize more to first-born boys than the first-born girls.
The overall data indicated that-
1) Fathers do get involved if provided with the opportunity.
2) Fathers are just as nurturant as mothers in their interactions with new-born children.
3) Though fathers do engage less in care-taking activities, they can be capable and competent in the execution of these activities(8).
Pamela ( 2001 ) conducted a study on new and expectant fathers. She used grounded theory to gather data and it was analyzed through the technique of constant comparative analysis. The findings revealed that the man labours to perceive the paternal role as relevant to his repertoire of roles. He labours to incorporate the paternal role in to his self-identity as a salient and integrated component of his personhood and to be seen as relevant to child-rearing by others. This study also revealed that men wanted to be involved parents, but they did not believe they had the knowledge, skills or support to do so. They felt alone in their experience and without resources to enact the parental role(9).
b) FATHER INFANT ATTACHMENT STUDIES
Attachment is a human phenomenon characterized by certain behaviours ( Ainsworth, 2005 ). Attachment behaviour can be seen as a discriminating, differential, affectional relationship which is established with a person . There are six behaviours of paternal attachment viz. Inspection, verbalization, smiling, touching, enface position and holding. Above all, father-infant attachment is important to the father in adapting to his new role, and to the infant who needs nurturing to survive(10).
Jones, Stephen P. ( 2004 ) conducted a descriptive pilot study to identify the quality and quantity of the affectional behaviour exhibited by fathers towards their infants. He also examined the distinction between the fathering and the father’s role. A volunteer population of 30 first-time married fathers were selected. An observational study check-list and questionnaire were used for data collection . The check-list examined 19 types of behaviour. More than 80% of the fathers exhibited high attachment behaviour e.g. holding, rocking etc. Fifty to seventy nine percent exhibited behaviour of moderate occurrence such as feeding, kissing, burping ( helping the child express wind by mouth ) after feeding e.g. by rubbing the child’s back etc(11).
Bowen and Miller ( 2004 ) in their study explored the father-infant attachment and its relationship to pre-parenthood classes. The sample consisted of 48 fathers and they were further classified into three groups.
Group I attended both delivery and classes.
Group II present at delivery but did not attend classes.
Group III neither attended classes nor delivery.
The statistical significance of the difference between groups was determined by analysis of variance. Fathers’ inspection, verbalization and composite distal attachment behaviour were significantly higher among Group I & II fathers than among Group II fathers. So , the results of the study support the theory of a sensitive period for the development of a father-infant bond(12).
Angie and Patricia ( 2001 ) reported that nurses are in a strategic position to assist the new father in his acquaintance with and early adjustment to his infant. They demonstrate how to handle and care for the new born and instruct the father about normal infant development. By helping a father to practise care-giving skills with his newborn child, the father’s self concept as a parent may be enhanced. The researchers developed a 33-item inventory to assess the “Early Father-Infant Attachment “. These assessment criteria were identified through a review of experimental and descriptive studies on parent-infant relationships conducted during the past 20 years. A tool was developed with different items , which were divided in to four categories to assess paternal behaviour viz. Inspection, verbalization, tactile contact and care-taking(13).
c) EXPERIENCE OF MEN AND WOMEN-COMPARISON
Hall Wendy ( 2005 ) used grounded theory in the study of the experience of women and men in dual earner families following the birth of their first infant. Grounded theory brings out more unexplored areas. Semi-structured interviews and observations were made and participants’ perception was recorded. Results indicated that the men’s involvement and comfort with their infants increased following their spouses’ return to work. Men experienced role strain with increasing unmet needs. The women in the study indicated that involvement in the family work and the giving of care to their infants is their primary role(14).
Sheley and Coverman (2002) did a study to examine the change in men’s house work and child care time between 1992 and 2002. Women’s housework time decreased but child-care time remained unchanged. Neither income nor employment in a professional or managerial occupation registered any effect on housework time. The effect on child-care time changed from 1992 to 2002. In 2002, a man in their 30’s spent the most time in child-care. But in 2002 the observation was that older men provided more child-care(15).
Karen (2002) studied selected child-rearing tasks and problems of mothers and fathers. Interview of both parents at two stages of the family life cycle-school age and teen age took place. The interview instrument contained questions pertaining to eleven selected tasks of parenting. Responses to each question were analyzed by chi-square techniques. The data on problems of parents revealed that at least 35% of the fathers and/or mothers indicated problems in the area of social relations, money responsibility, school performance etc. More fathers than mothers indicated problems with developing responsibility (Chi Square-6.80; df=1 ) and sex role development ( Chi Square-4.30; df=1 ). The author emphasized that parent educators must know about the interests, attitudes and needs of both mothers and fathers(16).
The above-quoted studies helped the investigator to understand the basic tasks and associated problems of parenting as perceived by both mothers and fathers.
2. NON-RESEARCH LITERATURE
Wuerger, M.K. ( 2005 ) says that parenting skills are not always so easily learned. To mature in parenthood, the young adult must understand his own values, problems, role conflicts and adaptation patterns. She emphasized that parents must identify their child as a separate person. Parents need to understand the motivations of their children at each stage of development. She says that nurses working in parent-child health care teach parents child rearing practices based on the growth and development theory and thus can help to make appropriate role changes(17).