The Effect of Father-Sensitive Childbirth Education on Prenatal Paternal Attachment Level

This study was planned as a randomised controlled trial to examine the effects of a "Father-Sensitive Childbirth Preparation Class" on the level of prenatal attachment. The main question it aims to answer is:

1- How does a father-sensitive birth preparation class affect fathers' prenatal attachment levels?

It was conducted between February 1, 2024, and October 1, 2024, with expectant fathers living in Mersin province, whose spouses were experiencing their first pregnancy, who were between 20-32 weeks' gestation, and who were going to become fathers for the first time.

A total of 99 expectant fathers were included in the study - 50 in the intervention group and 49 in the control group. The intervention group was given a "Father-Sensitive Childbirth Preparation Training" consisting of four sessions, while the control group received a standard "Childbirth Preparation Training", also consisting of four sessions.

The "Descriptive Data Collection Tool" and the "Prenatal Father Attachment Scale" were used to collect the research data.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Antenatal Education; Paternal Behavior; Prenatal Attachment; Childbirth Preparation Program
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Father-Sensitive Education; Behavioral: Standardized birth education

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 99
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Turkey
  • Yenişehir
    • Mersin, Yenişehir, Turkey, 33000
      • Mersin University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

Participants were:

• Over 19 years of age,
• At least literate,
• Whose spouse was between 20 and 32 weeks pregnant,
• Whose spouse was primigravida,
• Whose spouse had a singleton pregnancy,
• With no prior experience of pregnancy, childbirth, or parenting,
• With no history of miscarriage, curettage, or perinatal loss,
• Whose spouse had no pregnancy-related complications or risk factors,
• Who had not previously attended any childbirth preparation training, pregnancy information classes, or parenting courses.

Exclusion Criteria:

Participants were excluded if they:

• Had a spouse whose pregnancy was outside the 20-32 week gestation range,
• Had a spouse with a multiple pregnancy,
• Had any pregnancy-related complications or risk factors (high risk),
• Had prior experience of pregnancy, birth, or parenting,
• Had experienced miscarriage, curettage, or perinatal loss,
• Had previously attended any childbirth preparation training, pregnancy information classes, or parenting courses.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Father-Sensitive Birt Education; The father-sensitive birth education group was given "Father-Sensitive Childbirth Preparation Education" consisting of four sessions.	Behavioral: Father-Sensitive Education; he father-sensitive education program preserves the basic structure of the Childbirth Preparation Education program, but has been enriched with original content that supports the active emotional and functional participation of fathers-to-be in the birth process.
Active Comparator: Standardized Birt Education; The control group received a total of 12 hours of standard childbirth preparation training, consisting of four three-hour sessions.	Behavioral: Standardized birth education; The control group received a total of 12 hours of standard childbirth preparation training, consisting of four three-hour sessions.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Paternal Antenatal Attachment Scale (PAAS) total score mean	It consists of 16 questions in a 5-point Likert format, designed to evaluate the feelings and thoughts of expectant fathers towards the developing baby in the womb, based on their emotions, thoughts, and experiences over the past two weeks. Nine items on the scale are reverse-scored, and the total score ranges from 16 to 80; higher scores indicate a stronger level of antenatal attachment.	14 days after completing the 12-hour father-sensitive childbirth preparation class

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Sevil Güner

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): February 1, 2024
• Primary Completion (Actual): October 1, 2024
• Study Completion (Actual): October 14, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 10, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 23, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): May 1, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): May 1, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 23, 2025
• Last Verified: April 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Midwifery; Childbirth Preparation Program; Paternal attachment; Antenatal attachment
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Immune System Diseases; Hypersensitivity
• Other Study ID Numbers: MERSINU*GHOSHANLİ*001

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No