Department of Nutritional Sciences, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, United States of America.
Department of Psychology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, United States of America.
PLoS One. 2021 Mar 30;16(3):e0247112. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0247112. eCollection 2021.
Few studies have investigated fathers' roles in child care in Madagascar. This study explored the perceptions, attitudes, and practices regarding fathers' involvement in child care using qualitative methods. Ten focus group discussions were conducted among parents of children aged 6-23 months; seven were among mothers, and three among fathers. In-depth semi-structured interviews (n = 8) were also conducted with key informants. Discussions and interviews were audio-recorded and the verbatim transcripts in Malagasy were translated into English. Data were analyzed using the thematic analysis approach. Provision of financial and material support as well as teaching and playing with the child were the main perceived roles of fathers. In practice, fathers spent their time alone with their children playing and holding them when the mother was unavailable. Busy schedules and separation due to work were major barriers to fathers' involvement. Traditional gender roles for child care in which the mother is seen as primarily responsible for the child were salient across the data. Consequently, men involved in child care activities and their wives were often criticized by the community. Nevertheless, there was self-reported interest from both mothers and fathers in involving men more in child care. Interventions aimed to increase fathers' involvement in child care may be more successful when they focus on shifting the community perceptions on the division of responsibilities between fathers and mothers.
很少有研究调查马达加斯加父亲在育儿中的角色。本研究采用定性方法探讨了父亲参与育儿的看法、态度和实践。在 6-23 个月大的儿童的父母中进行了 10 次焦点小组讨论，其中 7 次是母亲参加的，3 次是父亲参加的。还对关键信息提供者进行了 8 次深入的半结构化访谈。讨论和访谈均进行了录音，用马耳他语记录的逐字记录被翻译成英语。使用主题分析方法对数据进行分析。提供经济和物质支持以及教导和与孩子玩耍是父亲的主要角色。实际上，当母亲不在时，父亲会独自与孩子玩耍并抱着孩子。繁忙的日程和因工作而分居是父亲参与的主要障碍。育儿中传统的性别角色观念认为母亲是孩子的主要负责人，这在整个数据中都很明显。因此，参与育儿活动的男性及其妻子经常受到社区的批评。尽管如此，母亲和父亲都表示有兴趣让更多的男性参与育儿。当干预措施侧重于改变社区对父亲和母亲之间责任分工的看法时，增加父亲参与育儿的干预措施可能会更成功。
