Breast Feeding, Breastfeeding Attitudes, Health Education, Parent-Child Relations, Paternal Behavior
Conditions
Keywords
father-infant bonding, paternal stress, breastfeeding attitudes, mobile-based education
Brief summary
The aim of this interventional clinical trial is to assess whether a mobile-based antenatal education programme for expectant fathers has a positive effect on father-infant bonding, stress levels, and breastfeeding attitudes. The study aims to answer the following main questions: Does participation in a mobile-based prenatal education programme strengthen fathers' emotional bonds with their babies? Does the education reduce fathers' stress levels during the prenatal and postnatal periods? Does it increase the father's knowledge and supportive attitude towards breastfeeding? Researchers will compare whether there are measurable differences in attachment, stress, and breastfeeding attitudes between the intervention group (fathers receiving mobile-based education) and the control group (fathers receiving standard routine information). Participants: Will complete pre- and post-intervention questionnaires assessing attachment, stress, and breastfeeding attitudes. The intervention group will have access to a six-module mobile application covering topics such as infant care, nutrition, sleep routines, health and safety, emotional development, and daily care practices. The study will be conducted with fathers aged 19-65 who became fathers within the last month and voluntarily agreed to participate.
Detailed description
This interventional clinical trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a mobile-based prenatal education programme designed specifically for expectant fathers. The programme aims to strengthen father-infant bonding, reduce paternal stress levels during the prenatal and early postnatal periods, and enhance fathers' knowledge and supportive attitudes related to breastfeeding. The study is grounded in the increasing scientific evidence demonstrating that fathers play an important role in maternal-infant health, emotional bonding, family cohesion, and early childhood development. Despite this, fathers frequently receive limited antenatal education and often feel unprepared for infant care, breastfeeding support, and the psychological transition to fatherhood. Mobile health (mHealth) technologies provide accessible, cost-effective, and father-friendly educational opportunities that help reduce participation barriers. In this trial, participants will be randomly assigned to either an intervention group or a control group. Fathers in the intervention group will have access to a six-module mobile application that offers structured prenatal education. The modules cover infant care, nutrition and feeding, sleep routines, health and safety practices, emotional and social development, and daily care skills. The educational content is designed to support cognitive, emotional, and behavioural readiness for fatherhood and to enhance fathers' confidence in newborn care. Participants in both groups will complete pre- and post-intervention questionnaires assessing father-infant bonding, stress levels, and breastfeeding attitudes. The intervention group will complete the post-test after engaging with the mobile application, while the control group will receive routine standard information and complete the same assessments during the same time periods. Differences between the two groups will be analysed to determine whether the mobile-based education leads to significant improvements in psychological and behavioural outcomes. The study will be conducted with fathers aged 19-65 who have become fathers within the past month and who voluntarily agree to participate. Exclusion criteria include lack of smartphone access, inability to use mobile applications, or unwillingness to complete the questionnaires. This trial is expected to contribute to the development of evidence-based perinatal care interventions that enhance paternal involvement within the domain of women's health nursing, support family-centred care models, and promote practices that strengthen maternal and infant health.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALMobile-based application
The intervention is a six-module mobile-based training programme developed specifically for expectant fathers. The modules cover baby care, nutrition, sleep patterns, health and safety, emotional development and daily care. The aim is to strengthen the father-baby bond, reduce stress levels and develop a positive attitude towards breastfeeding.
Sponsors
Gaziantep Islam Science and Technology University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
OTHER
Masking
SINGLE (Outcomes Assessor)
Masking description
This study is open-label for participants and investigators. However, the statistician responsible for data analysis will be blinded to group assignments to reduce potential bias in outcome evaluation.
Intervention model description
Participants are randomly assigned to one of two parallel groups: an intervention group receiving mobile-based prenatal education for expectant fathers, and a control group receiving routine prenatal information. The outcomes of both groups will be compared after the intervention period.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
MALE
Age
19 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Age between 19 and 65 years * First-time father * Has become a father within the last month * Has a healthy newborn without congenital anomalies or chronic illnesses * Does not have a premature or low-birth-weight baby * Has not become a father through adoption * Owns a mobile phone capable of accessing the mobile-based application * Has an Android or iOS operating system * Has not received any infant care training within the last 6 months * Has no physical or mental disability that would prevent viewing, hearing, or understanding the research questions or educational content * Voluntarily agrees to participate in the research
Exclusion criteria
* Declines to participate in the research * Does not own a smartphone * Cannot use mobile applications * Has a physical or mental condition that prevents completing the questionnaires * Has a baby with congenital anomalies or chronic medical conditions * Has a premature or low-birth-weight baby * Has received infant care training within the last 6 months * Has adopted a child * Is outside the 19-65 age range
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in Paternal Stress Levels | Baseline (Day 1) and Post-Intervention (8 weeks after baseline) | Paternal stress levels measured using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-State Subscale). A total score of 0-19 indicates no anxiety, a total score of 20-39 indicates mild anxiety, a total score of 40-59 indicates moderate anxiety, and a total score of 60-79 indicates severe anxiety. A total score of 60 or above indicates that the individual requires professional help. |
| Change in Father-Infant Bonding | Baseline (Day 1) and Post-Intervention (8 weeks after baseline) | Father-infant bonding measured using the Father-Infant Bonding Scale. High scores on the scale indicate a high level of attachment. |
| Change in Breastfeeding Attitudes and Participation | Baseline (Day 1) and Post-Intervention (8 weeks after baseline) | Fathers' attitudes and participation related to breastfeeding measured using the Fathers' Breastfeeding Attitude and Participation Scale. The total score under the sub-dimension of Fathers' Attitude Towards Breastfeeding ranges from 14 to 70, and the cut-off point for the scale is 58. The total score under the sub-dimension of Fathers' Participation in Breastfeeding ranges from 14 to 70, and the cut-off point for the scale is 58. High scores indicate high attitude and participation. |
| Change in Marital Satisfaction Levels | Baseline (Day 1) and Post-Intervention (8 weeks after baseline) | Marital satisfaction measured using the Marital Satisfaction Scale. The total score that can be obtained from the scale, which consists of a single subscale, ranges from 12 to 60 points. There are no reverse items on the scale. An increase in the score obtained from the scale indicates a high level of marital satisfaction. |
Countries
Turkey (Türkiye)
Contacts
Primary ContactSebahat Kuşlu, Masters
Outcome results
None listed