Abstract:
Background: Father‟s involvement in infants‟ care is associated with positive physical and
psychological development in a child. In order to improve father‟s role in infants‟ care, the
factors that influence his involvement are important to be known.
Objective: To explore the factors influencing father‟s involvement in infant care in a capital city
of Southern Sri Lanka.
Methodology: As a part of a series of phenomenological studies exploring parental
competencies, five Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) were conducted including six fathers of
infants at early infancy aged up to six months in each FGD. Participants were recruited through
purposive sampling at the five Maternal and Child Health Clinics (MCH) in Matara District.
Fathers‟ experience and perceptions on infant caring were explored using a pre-tested FGD
guide. Data were analyzed using the framework approach for qualitative data analysis.
Results: Five major themes emerged from the analysis as influencing the father‟s involvement
in infant care, i.e. fathers‟ involvement in infant care appeared to be the strongest while, cultural
factors and economic status also resulted in poor fathers‟ involvement. Sparse consideration on
father involvement in infant caring by the family health services also emerged as an influencing
factor.
Conclusions: Healthy relationship between mother and father emerged as a primary factor
facilitating father‟s involvement in infant care while grandparents‟ involvement negatively
influenced his role. Antenatal and postnatal services must focus on building up a healthy
relationship between father and the mother by emphasizing the importance of shared
responsibility on the infants.