NURSES PERCEPTION REGARDING FAMILY INVOLVEMENT IN NEONATAL AND POSTPARTUM CARE: A QUALITATIVE STUDY

Background: Prenatal care nurses play a pivotal role in educating and supporting new parents, fostering constructive maternal and paternal involvement from the onset of a child’s life. Understanding healthcare professionals' attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors is crucial to ensure inclusive, high-quality prenatal care. These factors can either encourage parental engagement or inadvertently marginalize fathers, thereby impacting the quality of care provided in neonatal and postpartum settings. Objective: This study aimed to explore the attitudes, beliefs, and practices of neonatal and postpartum nurses toward fathers' involvement in newborn care, highlighting the cultural and systemic factors influencing their engagement. Methods: A qualitative descriptive study was conducted involving ten nurses (90% female, 10% male) from neonatal and postpartum units in hospitals located in two major cities, Multan and Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. Participants were recruited through purposive sampling. Structured interviews lasting 25–35 minutes were conducted via telephone, capturing data on nurses' attitudes, perceived efficacy, and practices related to father-directed actions. Data analysis involved qualitative content analysis using NVivo 12 software, categorizing responses into themes such as father-child interaction, parental education, and nurses’ roles. Results: Participants demonstrated generally positive attitudes toward parental involvement; however, 80% reported that the existing healthcare culture prioritized the mother-child dyad. Over 70% expressed normative views influenced by gender, race, and cultural norms, which limited their engagement with fathers. Fathers were perceived as secondary caregivers, with 60% of nurses indicating minimal direct interactions unless prompted by fathers’ presence or inquiries. While 90% of participants acknowledged the importance of educating both parents, none had received formal training on engaging fathers, with 40% expressing a need for such instruction. Cultural differences in paternal involvement were also observed, with higher engagement noted among Nigerian and younger African American fathers compared to others. Conclusion: The study highlights that prevailing maternal-centric attitudes among nurses may unintentionally marginalize fathers, limiting their involvement in neonatal and postpartum care. Structured training programs and policy reforms are essential to foster equitable parental engagement and support inclusive family-centered care. Further research is recommended to explore the broader impact of provider attitudes on father involvement in newborn care.