The development and assessment of material to provide information on childbirth and postnatal period to partners of pregnant women

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25862216
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Lifelong developmental nursing
• Research Institution: National Center for Child Health and Development
• Principal Investigator: Takehara Kenji 国立研究開発法人国立成育医療研究センター, 政策科学研究部, 室長 (50531571)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 男性の産後うつ / 介入研究 / 系統的レビュー / プログラム開発 / 両親学級 / 妊産婦ケア

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The objectives of this study are to develop a booklet providing information to fathers during their partners’ pregnancies, to investigate the impact of the distribution of the booklet to them, and to conduct a systematic review to know the effects of prenatal educational intervention for fathers on paternal depression and marital relationship in postnatal period.
We conducted a randomized controlled trial to allocate 373 fathers and mothers in pregnant period into intervention or control group. There were no significant differences of mental health condition among fathers and their participation in child rearing and household affairs in both groups at first month postpartum. The main finding of the systematic review showed that prenatal educational intervention for fathers does not have a clear impact on rate of paternal depression and marital relationship in postnatal period. A comprehensive support to prevent paternal depression and improve their quality of life may be needed.

Free Research Field

母子保健、疫学