Fathers functional status during pregnancy and the early postnatal period

12^th Nursing and Healthcare Congress

October 03-05, 2016 Vancouver, Canada

Sevgi Ozkan

Pamukkale University, Turkey

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Nurs Care

Abstract :

Objective: To determine the functional status of fathers whose wives were pregnant or in the early postnatal period. Sample & Setting: The research population comprised 3750 fathers whose wives were pregnant or in the early postnatal period, and who were registered at a primary health clinic in the province centre. The research sample comprised 275 husbands of women who were registered at these clinics and who were in at least their 28th week of a normal (not at-risk) pregnancy with a single fetus, or who were in the early postnatal period (6-8 weeks postnatal) following birth of a single baby between the 38th and 42nd week without complications. Due to fathers declining to participate in the study or unable to participate because of busy work schedules, the research was completed with 155 fathers-to-be and 93 fathers; in total, 90% of the target sample was reached. A socio-demographic survey and the Inventory of Functional Status-Fathers were used for data collection and to describe the functional abilities of fathers-to-be and fathers. Findings: No statistically significant differences were found in functional status between the husbands of pregnant women and the husbands of women in the early postnatal period. Number of pregnancies was not significantly related to any of the seven subscales of fathers' functional status; age of husband, length of marriage and occupation of wife were significantly related to one subscale; occupation of husband and health insurance were significantly related to two subscales; income status of husband and educational level of wife were significantly related to three subscales; and educational level of husband was significantly related to four subscales. Conclusion: Although there was no significant difference in functional status for the husbands of pregnant women and the husbands of postnatal women, socio-demographic factors were found to have an effect.

Biography :

Sevgi Ozkan has completed her Master and PhD at the Ege University, Faculty of Nursing. She became Associate Professor for the department of Obstetrics and Gynecologic Nursing in 2010. She is the head of the nursing department at Faculty of Health Science in Pamukale University. She has published more than 25 papers in reputed journals and has been serving as an Editorial Board Member of repute.

Email: ozkansevgi@hotmail.com