Engaging fathers in supporting breastfeeding

Research shows that fathers can have a considerable influence on a mother’s decision to initiate and continue with breastfeeding. Despite this, many health professionals and broader care services (including maternity services) fail to engage meaningfully and systematically with fathers in supporting breastfeeding.

Although the importance of the father’s role in supporting breastfeeding has been known for some time, little is known about the nature of this support. No clear delineation of which behaviours and attributes constitute father support, or differentiate it from other kinds of support, is provided in the current literature base (Sherriff et al., 2014).

Project aims

Professor Val Hall, Dr Nigel Sherriff, and Dr Christina Panton have completed the first phase of a study which aimed to analyse empirically the concept of ‘father support’ in relation to maternity services and broader health settings, and in doing so, clarify the meaning of ‘father support’ to enable comprehension and application in practice, education and research. 

Project impact

A new model of father support to promote breastfeeding has been developed which identifies the core attributes (and their antecedents) of father support that may assist health practitioners to reflect on their current working practices and service delivery models regarding breastfeeding. A number of entry points for practice are identified, which may offer important opportunities for health practitioners, particularly health visitors, to engage meaningfully and effectively with fathers around supporting breastfeeding. The model of father support proposed may also provide educational opportunities for student midwives and health visitors in training (and other health professionals), as well as research possibilities to explore the potential efficacy of interventions designed to increase breastfeeding initiation and continuance (Sherriff et al., 2014).
 
The second phase of this study will look to test out applications of the model of father support which is expected to start in 2015. 

Research team

Professor Val Hall

Dr Nigel Sherriff

Dr Christina Panton

Outputs

Sherriff, N.S. and Hall, V. (2014). Rhetoric or reality? Father support in promoting breastfeeding. International Journal of Birth and Parenting Education, 1(4),17-20. (Commissioned)

Sherriff, N.S., Hall, V. and Panton, C. 2014). Engaging and supporting fathers to promote breastfeeding: A concept analysis. Midwifery,30,667-677.

Sherriff, N.S., Hall, V. and Panton, C. (2014). A new model of father support to promote breastfeeding, Community Practitioner, 87(5): 20-24.

Related outputs

Sherriff, N.S. and Hall, V. (2011). Engaging and supporting fathers to promote breastfeeding: a new role for health visitors? Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences, 25(3), 467-475.

Sherriff, N.S., Hall, V., and Pickin, M. (2009). Fathers’ perspectives on breastfeeding: ideas for intervention, British Journal of Midwifery, 17(4), 223-227.

Sherriff, N.S. Lowe, K., & McDonnell, E. (2012). Engaging Young Fathers, In Potter, C.A. and Olley, R. (Eds.) Engaging Fathers in the Early Years (pp.91-109). London: Continuum. ISBN: 9781441196958

Sherriff, N.S. (2007). Supporting young fathers: examples of promising practice, Brighton, TSA. ISBN: 978 1871504 81 1

Presentations

Hall, V., Sherriff, N.S. and Panton, C. (2013). Engaging fathers in supporting breastfeeding. Facilitated workshop at the Student Midwife Conference, 18th July, 2013.

Hall, V., Sherriff, N.S. and Panton, C. (2013). Defining the concept of father support in breastfeeding - a hybrid model. Presentation at the University of Brighton Doctoral Conference, 5th July 2013.

Hall, V., Sherriff, N.S. and Panton, C. (2013). Critical reflections on using focus groups: examples from a concept analysis on breastfeeding. FREGC Workshop, 12th July 2012, University of Brighton, Brighton.

Sherriff, N.S., Hall, V., and Panton, C. (2012). Engaging and supporting fathers to promote breastfeeding. Invited presentation to the School of Nursing, Nagoya City University, Nagoya, Japan, 19th January, 2012

Hall,V., Sherriff, N.S., and Panton, C. (2011). Engaging and supporting fathers to promote breastfeeding. Paper presented at the Royal College of Midwives Annual Conference ‘Valuing Midwives: Improving Outcomes’, 15th–16th November, 2011, Brighton.

Hall, V., Sherriff, N.S., and Panton, C. (2011). Engaging and supporting fathers to promote breastfeeding. Paper presented at the Kent, Surrey & Sussex Regional Paediatric & Neonatal Research Network, and the Reproductive Health & Childbirth Local Speciality Group, 5th Annual Research Day, 2nd September 2011, Brighton.

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