Fatherhood in Jamaica

Introduction• The voice of fathers is often absent in research for a

number of reasons: • Not considered: children are the domain of mothers• More difficult to access; children brought to contact

points largely by mothers

• We therefore often hear from fathers through the lens of mothers

• The JA KIDS study was designed to obtain information from fathers at the birth contact and again at the 18-22 month contact, while also obtaining mothers’ perceptions.

Data Sources• Mother’s Perception of Fathers

• Antenatal Questionnaire• Birth Questionnaire• 9-12 month Questionnaire• 18-22 month Questionnaire• 48-54 month Questionnaire

• Father’s reports of fatherhood• 1 year• 4-5 years

Birth Contact• 9,700 mothers enrolled• 3,400 fathers visit them within the first days post

delivery• Interviews conducted at birth using questionnaire:• My Role as a Man and Father

Father’s Birth QuestionnaireQuestionnaire SectionsA. Previous Parenting ExperienceB. Preparation for Pregnancy and Delivery C. Preparation for ParentingD. Partner Relationships & ExpectationsE. Lifestyle F. Emotional Well-Being and Social Support **G. Sexual and Reproductive HealthH. Social Background and Health

Contacts: 1-2 Years9-12 month contact• 7600 primary caregivers interviewed, primarily mothers• Reported on father’s involvement

18-22 month contact (Telephone Interview)• 25% random sample of primary caregivers (n=2450)

(Telephone Interview)• 10% random sample of those enrolled at birth (n=1035)

(Face to Face Interview)

• 3485 primary caregivers (mothers) report on fatherhood• 389 fathers (36.8%) attended and completed questionnaire, My Role as a Man and Father of a One Year Old

4-5 year contact• Families who had participated in the majority of

previous contacts• N=1300

Mother’s Reports9-12, 18-22 and 48-54 months

• Baby’s Birth Registration and Child Health Passport• Baby’s Health• Baby’s Nutrition• Baby’s Development & Temperament• Household and Family Characteristics• Parent-Child Interaction/ Stimulation Resources• Caregiver Work and Baby Care• Caregiver Health

Father Demographics

Mother’s Interviewed (Birth) (9239)

• Mean age 31.4 yrs. (+8.4) • Range 14-80 yrs.• 14-17yrs. 79 fathers (1%)• Relationship

with father 91.0%

Fathers Interviewed (Birth) (3469)

Mean age: 30.6 yrs. (+ 8.0)Range: 16-69 yrs.14-17 yrs. 66 fathers (1.0%)Relationship with mother: 97.6%

Fathers’ Voices

Father’s Health at Birth• Always fit and well 74.4%• Usually fit and well 18.8%• Sometimes unwell 4.9%• Often unwell 0.2%• Always Unwell 0.1%

• Illnesses:• Sinusitis 6.6%• Asthma/Wheeze 5.3%• Hypertension 1.6%• Diabetes 0.8%• Sickle Cell Disease 0.8%

Father’s Lifestyle at Birth

• Cigarettes 16.5%• Marijuana 24.8%• Alcohol 62.9%• Hard Drugs 0.1%

Father’s Awareness of Pregnancy

• When are father’s made aware of pregnancy?• 60% of fathers report being told by 4 weeks• 190 (5.5%) were never told; they found out

• Some fathers (n=20) report that they told the mother “I know what I did”

• Others reported knowing shortly after conception because the baby was planned.

Father’s Initial Response to Pregnancy

Other (n=46)

ConfusedConsideringFelt BadIndifferentIgnorant NervousShockedStunnedUnsure UpsetUpset at the way she told me at 7 months

Father’s Later Response to Pregnancy

Fathers Pregnancy/Parenting Experience

• More than half had previous children (53.7%)• A third (35.4%) had no children

• Other child rearing experience• Partner’s children (7.2%)• Younger siblings (7.4%)• Other child relatives (5.4%)

Preparation for Pregnancy and Delivery

• Proportion who tried to get information on pregnancy 40.2% (unrelated to prior pregnancy experience)

• Sources of information• Mother 19.5%• Books/ Mag. 19.3%• Female relatives 15.8%• Male friends 14.4%• Health Prof. 12.0%• Father 8.2%• Male relatives 7.4%• Newspaper 7.4%• Male Childbirth Classes 1.5%

Preparation for Parenting• Have you ever tried to get experience on parenting

before now (birth of child)?

• Yes, a lot of the time (22.4%) No, I didn’t want to (8.8%)• Yes, some of the time (22.2%) No, I didn’t have time (9.7%)• Yes, a little time ( 5.5%)No, I didn’t need to (27.4%)• Yes, other ( 0.5%) No, other (3.6%)

50.6% 49.5%

Preparation for Parenting• Sources of information

Pregnancy Parenting Rank• Mother 19.5% 26.5% 1• Books/ Mag. 19.3% 17.2% 3• Female relatives 15.8% 19.7% 4• Television 15.5% 15.9%• Male friends 14.4% 19.6% 2• Health Prof. 12.0% 8.8%• Father 8.2% 12.9% 5• Male relatives 7.4% 11.4%• Newspaper 7.4% 8.6%• Childbirth/Parenting 1.5% 1.9% Classes

Participation During Pregnancy Father’s voices and mother’s reports• Provide financial support 91.4% (82.2%)• Feel the baby move 88.1%• Provide emotional support 87.7% (71.4%)• Regularly check on mother’s well-being 79.6% (74.0%)• Regularly check on baby’s well-being 75.3% (69.4%)• Attend antenatal visits 49.2% (20.1%)• Listen to baby’s heartbeat 47.6%• Watch an ultrasound 31.6%• Other (Domestic support) 1.8%

Feelings on Fatherhood-Stimulation

• Talking to babies is imp for their development 98.2%• Reading to babies helps development 98.0%• Hugging babies is imp. for their development 97.0%• Babies need stimulation for development 96.7%• Hugging babies can spoil them 32.1%

Feelings on Fatherhood-Breast Feeding I

• Breast milk is better than formula 99.2%• Breast feeding creates a special bond with mom

98.4%• Bottle feeding allows father involvement 94.4%• A mother who does not breast feed is not a

good mother 47.4%• Breast feeding makes it difficult for fathers to

bond with their babies 28.4%• Breast feeding makes women less attractive 16.8%

Feelings on Fatherhood-Father’s Role

• Fathers should spend time with children 99.9%• Fathers should be equally involved as mothers 99.9%• Fathers play a central role in children’s

development 99.7%• Fathers are able to enjoy children more when

they are older 60.7%• If it affects his job, a father is too involved 33.6%

Feelings on Fatherhood-Gender

• Boy babies are more difficult than girls 36.6%• Girl babies are more difficult than boys 51.1%

• Gender Preference• Boys 46.9%• Girls 25.0%• Either 25.3%• Not stated 2.8%

Care of my Baby: Breast Feeding

• How would you like your baby’s mother to feed the baby?

• Breast milk 44.5%• Formula 1.4%• Both 51.8%• Other 2.3% (What mother wishes)

Care of my Baby: Mother’s Return to Work

• What is the youngest age that you think it is alright for a mother to go to work?

• Under 6 months 17.2%• 6-11 months 38.9%• 1-2 years 32.9%• > 3 years 8.4% • Never 1.4% • Other 1.2% (What mother wishes)

Mothers’ Reports

Fathering at 1- 4 Years: Relationship with Mother & Baby• Relationship at Birth = 91%

9 mths 18 mths 4 yrs

• Current partner 87.3%• Father Figure 90.9%• Living with baby 45.8%

87.0% 63.0%88.5% 72.9%

Fathering at 1- 4 Years: Financial Support

9 mths 18 mths 4 yrs• Always 73.2% 71.8% 60.3%• Often 7.3% 6.2% 4.3%• Sometimes 13.5% 13.8% 17.4% • Never 5.8% 6.4% 11.5%

Fathering at 1-4 Years: Involvement in Decision Making

9 mths 18 mths 4 yrs• None 7.5% 9.5% 17.9%• Limited 12.5% 13.6% 14.2%• A Great Deal 79.8% 75.3% 61.3%

Fathering at 1-4 Years:Interactions (Play) with Baby

9 mths 18 mths 4 yrs.• More than 4 times/week 72.2% 61.7% 37.4%• Once per week 8.1% 13.2% 18.9%• Once per month 3.1% 7.7% 10.0%• Once every 3 months 1.8% 5.4% 10.0%• Other 6.2% 5.4% 7.1%• Never 8.6% 5.8% 15.6%

Sexual function at birth of a baby

• A third of men report 2 or more sexual partners in the previous year

• Men in higher quality relationships report:• Higher frequency of sex• Greater sexual satisfaction• Fewer partners

Conclusions I

• Jamaican fathers are generally healthy• Most are happy when told of impending fatherhood.• A large proportion of those that are initially not happy

become so by the birth; 10% still not happy then• Only a half seek parenting information, primarily from

mothers, female relatives and male friends• Few access parenting classes

Conclusions II• Jamaican fathers have strong gender preference for

boys.

• They report strong participation in pregnancy support, with the exception of activities that occur at clinics

• Fathers believe in stimulation of babies and the importance of their role, but there is only partial support for breast feeding

Conclusions 3• Mothers report fathers to be more engaged in financial

support and decision making than in interactions and play with the baby

• Almost 10% of mothers report no relationship with the baby’s father at the birth.

• Mothers report a fall off in both the relationship with the father and all aspects of engagement with the baby between 18 mths. and 4 years; from 90% to 60%