The effect of interventions aimed at fathers on fathers' participation in infant care attachment status and paternal depression: A randomized controlled trial

This study was conducted in order to examine the effect of interventions aimed at fathers on fathers' participation in infant care, attachment situations and paternal depression. The study has a randomized controlled pre-test- post-test, parallel group experimental design. December June-Dec 2024 in a Family Health Center in Konya province, with a baby of 4-12 months, the first-time father was conducted with 80 fathers (40 experimental group, 40 control group). Online trainings consisting of 4 sessions for the experimental group were given by the researcher and educational messages were sent via social media. Personal Information Form, Fathers' Participation in Baby Care Questionnaire, Father-Baby Attachment Scale, Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale were used to collect the data. In the evaluation of the data, the t test and the chi-square test were used in the independent groups in the comparison of the experimental and control groups. Mixed order variance analysis (ANOVA) was used to compare the variables in the groups according to the follow-up times. The statistical significance value was accepted as p<0.05. According to the research findings, the average total score of the Fathers' Participation in Infant Care Questionnaire taken in the experimental group after the intervention was statistically higher than that of the control group (p<0.05). In addition, there was a significant increase in the sub-dimension score averages in the experimental group after the intervention. The average total score of the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale taken in the final test in the experimental group was found to be statistically lower compared to the preliminary test, and the decrease in the experimental group was greater than in the control group (p<0.05). The total score average of the Father-Baby Attachment Scale taken in the final test in the experimental group was statistically lower compared to the preliminary test (p<0.05). As a result, it seems that initiatives aimed at fathers (online education and video presentation) increase fathers' participation in baby care and reduce the risk of postpartum paternal depression. It is suggested that such initiatives should be made to individuals who are fathers for the first time and that more space should be given to practices that increase paternal attachment in the educational content. Keywords: Paternal; Paternal Infant Attachment; Infant Care; Nursing; Paternal Depression.