Why it is important to involve new fathers in the care of their child
Intended for healthcare professionals
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Why it is important to involve new fathers in the care of their child

Mary Nolan Professor of perinatal education, Institute of Health and Society, University of Worcester, Worcester

Mary Nolan explores research into the often-neglected role of men and suggests how primary care nurses can develop services to increase their involvement

Research into fathers’ unique contributions to the physical, emotional, social and cognitive wellbeing of their offspring has been ongoing for several decades. Health and family care policy has focused increasingly on the imperative to include fathers in services and to see them as a vital resource for mothers and children. The author identified papers from 2000 onwards that illuminate health visitors’ level of engagement with fathers of young families. The review covers policy relating to health and family services for fathers, the nature of fathering in the 21st century, the influence of involved fathers on their partners and babies, what fathers say they want from family services, and future directions for research into fathering.

Primary Health Care. 25, 3, 18-23. doi: 10.7748/phc.25.3.18.e943

Correspondence

m.nolan@worc.ac.uk

Peer review

This article has been subject to double blind peer review

Conflict of interest

None declared

Received: 14 July 2014

Accepted: 08 September 2014

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