References

Arnstein L, Wadsworth AC, Yamamoto BA Patient involvement in preparing health research peer-reviewed publications or results summaries: a systematic review and evidence-based recommendations. Res Involv Engagem. 2020; 6:(34) https://doi.org/10.1186/s40900-020-00190-w

Bäckström C, Hertfelt Wahn E Support during labour: first-time fathers' descriptions of requested and received support during the birth of their child. Midwifery. 2009; 27:(1)67-73 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2009.07.001

Baldwin S, Malone M, Sandall J, Bick D Mental health and wellbeing during the transition to fatherhood: a systematic review of first-time fathers' experiences. JBI Database System Rev Implement Rep. 2018; 16:(11)2118-2191 https://doi.org/10.11124/JBISRIR-2017-003773

Baldwin S, Malone M, Sandall J, Bick D A qualitative exploratory study of UK first-time fathers' experiences, mental health and wellbeing needs during their transition to fatherhood. BMJ Open. 2019; 9:(9) https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2019-030792

Baldwin S, Bick D, Spiro A Translating fathers' support for breastfeeding into practice. Prim Health Care Res Dev. 2021a; 22

Baldwin S, Malone M, Murrells T, Sandall J, Bick D A mixed-methods feasibility study of an intervention to improve men's mental health and wellbeing during their transition to fatherhood. BMC Public Health. 2021b; 21:(1) https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-11870-x

Baldwin S, Malone M, Sandall J, Bick D A process evaluation of Promotional Guides used by health visitors to support men's transition to fatherhood: a qualitative study. Perspect Public Health. 2024; 144:(2)98-110 https://doi.org/10.1177/17579139221118243

Bateson K, Darwin Z, Galdas P, Rosan C Engaging fathers: Acknowledging the barriers. Journal of Health Visiting. 2017; 5:(3)126-132

Black F Fathers' self-reported wellbeing in the first postnatal year: How can health visitors help?. Journal of Health Visiting. 2023; 11:(2)62-70

Brook J, Salmon DA A qualitative study exploring parental perspectives and involvement in health visiting services during the Health Visitor Implementation Plan in the South West of England. Health Soc Care Community. 2017; 25:(2)349-356 https://doi.org/10.1111/hsc.12308

Cabrera MJ, Tamis-LeMonda CS Handbook of Father Involvement: Multidisciplinary Perspectives, 2nd edn. New York and London: Routledge; 2013

Cowley S, Whittaker K, Grigulis A Why Health Visiting? A Review of the Literature about Key Health Visitor Interventions, Processes and Outcomes for Children and Families.London: National Nursing Research Unit, King's College London; 2013

Cowley S, Bidmead C Relationships and partnership working for public health. In: Cowley S, Whittaker K (eds). London: Elsevier; 2021

Davenport CJ, Swami V Health visitors' experiences of supporting fathers with paternal postnatal depression. Journal of Health Visiting. 2023; 11:(9)378-390

Davenport C, Lambie J, Owen C, Swami V Fathers' experience of depression during the perinatal period: a qualitative systematic review. JBI Evid Synth. 2022; 1;20:(9)2244-2302 https://doi.org/10.11124/JBIES-21-00365

Deane K, Delbecque L, Gorbenko O Cocreation of patient engagement quality guidance for medicines development: an international multistake-holder initiative. BMJ Innov. 2019; 5:(1)43-55 https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjinnov-2018-000317

Dheensa S, Metcalfe A, Williams RA Men's experiences of antenatal screening: A meta-synthesis of the qualitative research. Int J Nurs Stud. 2013; 50:(1)121-33 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2012.05.004

East Midlands Academic Health Science Network. How to involve the public as co-authors. 2023. http://www.How_to_involve_people_as_co-authors.pdf (accessed 16 April 2024)

Fisher SD Paternal Mental Health: Why Is It Relevant?. Am J Lifestyle Med. 2017; 11:(3)200-211 https://doi.org/10.1177/1559827616629895

Goldfeld S, Price A, Smith C Nurse Home Visiting for Families Experiencing Adversity: A Randomized Trial. Pediatrics. 2019; 143:(1) https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2018-1206

Goodwin RD, Styron TH Perceived quality of early paternal relationships and mental health in adulthood. J Nerv Ment Dis. 2012; 200:(9)791-5 https://doi.org/10.1097/NMD.0b013e318266f87c

Greening L And how was it for you dad?. Community Practitioner. 2006; 79:(6)184-187

Hansen E, Tesch L, Ayton J ‘They're born to get breastfed’-how fathers view breastfeeding: a mixed method study. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2018; 18:(1) https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-018-1827-9

Health Research Authority, INVOLVE. Impact of public involvement on ethical aspects of research. 2016. http://www.invo.org.uk/posttypepublication/public-involvement-in-researchimpact-on-ethical-aspects-ofresearch (accessed 16 April 2024)

Kemp L, Harris E, McMahon C Child and family outcomes of a longterm nurse home visitation programme: a randomised controlled trial. Arch Dis Child. 2011; 96:(6)533-40 https://doi.org/10.1136/adc.2010.196279

Kemp L, Harris E, McMahon C Benefits of psychosocial intervention and continuity of care by child and family health nurses in the pre- and postnatal period: process evaluation. J Adv Nurs. 2013; 69:(8)1850-61 https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.12052

Kemp L, Elcombe E, Sumpton W, Hook B, Cowley S, Byrne F Evaluation of the impact of the MECSH programme in England: A mixed methods study. Journal of Health Visiting. 2022; 10:(5)200-214 https://doi.org/10.12968/johv.2022.10.5.200

Machin A The life of dad: the making of the modern father.London: Simon and Schuster; 2018

Mannion CA, Hobbs AJ, McDonald SW, Tough SC Maternal perceptions of partner support during breastfeeding. International Breastfeeding Journal. 2013; 8:(1)

Menzies M Fathers' experiences of the health visiting service: A qualitative study. Journal of Health Visiting. 2019; 7:(10)490-497

NHS England. Shared commitment to further public involvement in research. 2023. https://www.england.nhs.uk/aac/what-we-do/embedding-research-in-the-nhs/shared-commitment (accessed 16 April 2024)

NHS England. Making research matter: Chief Nursing Officer for England's strategic plan for research. 2021. https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/making-research-matter-chief-nursing-officer-for-englands-strategic-plan-for-research (accessed 16 April 2024)

Oldfield V, Carr H Postnatal depression: Student health visitors' perceptions of their role in supporting fathers. Journal of Health Visiting. 2017; 5:(3)143-49

Lobban D, Oliver J, Davio K, Seddik K, Porkess V Evaluation of the quality of patient involvement in a patient-led analysis of the lived experience of a rare disease. Res Involv Engagem. 2023; 9:(1) https://doi.org/10.1186/s40900-023-00445-2

Pålsson P, Persson EK, Ekelin M, Kristensson Hallström I, Kvist LJ First-time fathers experiences of their prenatal preparation in relation to challenges met in the early parenthood period: Implications for early parenthood preparation. Midwifery. 2017; 50:86-92 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2017.03.021

Price A, Bryson H, Mensah FK Embedding nurse home visiting in universal healthcare: 6-year follow-up of a randomised trial. Arch Dis Child. 2023; 108:(10)824-832 https://doi.org/10.1136/archdischild-2023-325662

Salway S, Chowbey P, Clarke L Parenting in modern Britain: understanding the experiences of Asians fathers.: Joseph Rowntree Foundation & York Publishing; 2009

Sarkadi A, Kristiansson R, Oberklaid F, Bremberg S Fathers' involvement and children's developmental outcomes: a systematic review of longitudinal studies. Acta Paediatr. 2008; 97:(2)153-8 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1651-2227.2007.00572.x

Sherriff N, Hall V, Panton C Engaging and supporting fathers to promote breast feeding: a concept analysis. Midwifery. 2014; 30:(6)667-77 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2013.07.014

Whitelock A Why do health visitors screen mothers and not fathers for depression in the postnatal period?. Journal of Health Visiting. 2016; 4:(6)312-321

Williams R, Hewison A, Wildman S, Roskell K Changing Fatherhood: An Exploratory Qualitative Study with African and African Caribbean Men in England. Children & Society. 2013; 27:(2)92-103

Fathers' experiences of the Maternal and Early Childhood Sustained Home visiting (MECSH) programme: A service user's perspective

02 May 2024
Volume 12 · Issue 4

Abstract

It is widely recognised that fathers play an important role in the family unit, both in supporting maternal psychological wellbeing, and promoting children's mental health and development. This article presents a personal perspective of a father's experience of the Maternal and Early Childhood Sustained Home visiting programme (MECSH) delivered by a health visiting service in London. The article has been co-authored by a service user and a professional, a novel approach to presenting the voice of lived experience in health visiting publications. The co-production process of writing the article is discussed, acknowledging the strengths and limitations, rewards and challenges, and the strategies used along the way. Service user co-authorship in health visiting peer-reviewed publications contributes to the current national nursing research agenda to further public involvement, while providing valuable insights into the understanding of lived experiences.

Research shows that fathers can make a positive contribution to their partner's mental health (Fisher, 2016) and health behaviours such as breastfeeding, smoking and nutrition (Mannion et al, 2013; Sherriff et al, 2014; Hansen et al, 2018; Baldwin et al, 2021a) and their child's social, emotional, behavioural and cognitive development (Sarkadi et al, 2008; Goodwin and Styron, 2012; Cabrera et al, 2013; Machin, 2018). Supporting new fathers, as well as mothers, is therefore crucial to ensuring good health of the whole family. Health visitors are ideally placed to provide this support as ‘family workers'; however, research evidence continues to highlight barriers to father-inclusive practices and ineffective engagement of fathers with the health visiting service (Bateson et al, 2017; Menzies, 2019; Baldwin et al, 2019; 2021b; Leonard et al, 2020; Davenport et al, 2022). Consequently, there are few reports of success stories when it comes to fathers' experiences of the health visiting service.

Register now to continue reading

Thank you for visiting Journal of Child Health and reading some of our peer-reviewed resources for children’s health professionals. To read more, please register today. You’ll enjoy the following great benefits:

What's included

  • Limited access to our clinical or professional articles

  • New content and clinical newsletter updates each month