Indian fathers and their premature baby--an early beginning: a pilot study of skin-to-skin contact, culture and fatherhood

This pilot study evaluated the impact of skin-to-skin contact on the sensitive care that fathers provided to their premature babies in five Kangaroo Mother Care programs in India. Two groups of fathers were identified: The first group (n = 14) carried their babies in skin-to-skin contact, while the...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inFathering (Harriman, Tenn.) Vol. 12; no. 2; pp. 211 - 217
Main Authors Varela, Natalia, Munoz, Pablo, Tessier, Rejean, Plata, Sandra, Charpak, Nathalie
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Harriman Men's Studies Press 22.03.2014
Subjects
Babies
Birth weight
Families & family life
Father and child
Fathers
Hospital costs
Infants (Premature)
Mothers
Parent Child Relationship
Pediatrics
Psychological aspects
Quality of life
Religion
Social aspects
Young Children
India
Sweden
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Summary:This pilot study evaluated the impact of skin-to-skin contact on the sensitive care that fathers provided to their premature babies in five Kangaroo Mother Care programs in India. Two groups of fathers were identified: The first group (n = 14) carried their babies in skin-to-skin contact, while the second (n = 23) did not. Fathers' sensitivity and perceptions of their role were assessed using Q-sort methodology. Fathers who carried their babies in skin-to-skin contact had higher sensitivity scores and exhibited more caring behaviours than fathers who did not. It appears that early skin-to-skin contact promoted fathers' greater involvement with infants.
ISSN:1537-6680
1933-026X
DOI:10.3149/fth.1202.211