Protocol for the Feasibility, Acceptability, and Preliminary Efficacy Trial of text4FATHER for Improving Underserved Fathers' Involvement in Infant Care

Abstract

While father engagement in infant care is widely advocated and research demonstrates that it contributes to improved outcomes, few approaches engage fathers, especially racial/ethnic minority underserved fathers, during maternity care. This study protocol describes the text4FATHER's feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy trial from mid-pregnancy through two months postnatal age.

Figures

Figure 1.. Conceptual framework of text4FATHER intervention

Key: The IBM framework asserts how one’s behavior (i.e., father engagement) is influenced by core constructs of behavioral attitudes, perceived norms, and personal agency. Each construct is determined by underlying beliefs: attitudes represent specific beliefs about performing a behavior, perceived norms are influenced by what others think about behavioral performance, and personal agency is one’s confidence to perform the behavior (self-efficacy). Other constructs (e.g., background factors) influence behavior via these beliefs. Text4FATHER also incorporates a family-systems approach that discusses how to consider father involvement within the larger social-ecological context that can benefit all members of the family triad.

Figure 2.. Summary of text4FATHER study procedures and participant flow

Baseline survey: Time 1 Monitoring responsive texts: 2 months 4 months 6 months Follow-up survey: Time 2 (7-months)