Content and Presentation of Content in Parental Education Groups in Sweden

Abstract

ABSTRACTThis study investigated parents’ experiences of parental education groups at antenatal and child health care centers, including content, presentation of content, the leader’s role, and the importance of other participating parents. Twenty-one interviews with 26 parents from 6 cities across Sweden were analyzed with 3 content analysis approaches. Parents expressed both satisfaction and dissatisfaction with the content, presentation of content, and the leader’s role. They reported that social contact with other parents was important, that parenthood topics were covered less frequently than child and childbirth-related topics, and that group activities were less frequent than lectures. When designing future parental education groups, it is important to consider expanding parenthood topics and group activities because this structure is considered to provide support to parents.