Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Fathers' Experiences of Early Parenting: A Qualitative Study.
Rakime Elmir, Simone Ormsby, Particia Leahy-Warren and 3 others
PMID 41841749WHAT IT FOUND
Fathers described feeling excluded by maternity care, left without father-specific information, and overwhelmed by online searches.
They wanted continuity from midwives or doctors, plain explanations, paid leave, and peer forums tailored to their language and culture.
Key findings
01Fathers felt excluded from conversations and procedures during their partners' maternity care, leaving them feeling unimportant and helpless.
02Many fathers searched online to fill information gaps, but the information sometimes increased anxiety and uncertainty because it was overwhelming.
03Fathers wanted father-specific resources, continuity of care, paid leave, and peer support groups or forums.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The sample was small and purposive, with 15 CALD fathers in two Australian states, so it may not represent all fathers. All interviews were by telephone, and one interview was not recorded, which may affect how much detail was captured. Most participants were married, employed full-time, not born in Australia, and had permanent residency or citizen status, so fathers with different relationship, work, or migration situations may be underrepresented. The first author was a culturally diverse midwife and the analysis involved authors with maternity and public health roles, which may shape interpretation. The study reports experiences and support needs, not tested interventions or patient outcomes.
Declared interests
The authors reported no funding and no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read the themes as proof that father-inclusive maternity care improves outcomes. The study reports 15 fathers' experiences and support needs, not a tested intervention or measured effect.