Engaging culturally diverse fathers in maternal and family healthcare: Experiences and perspectives of healthcare professionals

Abstract

AbstractIssue AddressedAustralian maternal, family and child services increasingly espouse the value of being ‘father‐inclusive’. However, fathers report feeling excluded or marginalised during healthcare visits with their partners/infants, and experience barriers to engaging in perinatal healthcare at the community, individual and healthcare service level. These barriers may be amplified in men who are members of minority groups, such as those from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds.MethodsThis research investigated healthcare professionals' perceptions and experiences of providing perinatal health services to families from CALD backgrounds. Semi‐structured interviews were held with healthcare professionals from multiple disciplinary backgrounds providing services to families in the perinatal period. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed and analysed thematically to identify key themes and sub‐themes.ResultsTen healthcare professionals were interviewed. Participants acknowledged that inclusion of fathers in care is important as involvement enables fathers to support their pregnant partners and children, manage their own mental health, and helps to transform harmful gender roles.ConclusionsOverall, healthcare professionals are willing to include culturally diverse fathers. However, the ability of culturally diverse families to engage with healthcare services is impacted by the cultural competency of the services. So what? Healthcare delivered during pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum year may be improved by adopting a whole‐family approach, which considers the needs and perspectives of fathers and partners. However, particular attention is needed to ensure healthcare policies and practices are culturally competent to meet the needs of fathers from culturally diverse backgrounds.