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.

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Key information

Conditions

Prenatal Attachment Antenatal Education Childbirth Preparation Program Paternal Behavior

Age range

19 year and older

Sex eligibility

Male

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Mersin University

Mersin, Yenişehir, 33000, Turkey (Türkiye)

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

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.

Treatment and study plan

Father-Sensitive Education

Behavioral

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.

Standardized birth education

Behavioral

The control group received a total of 12 hours of standard childbirth preparation training, consisting of four three-hour sessions.

Primary outcomes

Paternal Antenatal Attachment Scale (PAAS) total score mean

Time frame: 14 days after completing the 12-hour father-sensitive childbirth preparation class

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.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Sevil Güner

Other

Registry information

Important dates

Study start: 2024
Primary completion: 2024
Study completion: 2024
First posted: May 1, 2025
Registry last updated: May 1, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.

Completed