Fathers for the first time: Validation of a questionnaire to asses father experiences of first childbirth in Latin America

Abstract

The active incorporation of men in the process of childbirth is an increasingly common practice internationally. However, there are no validated instruments for Latin America.

Objective: To validate an instrument to assess new fathers' experiences during childbirth in Latin America.

Design: Prospective validation study.

Setting: Talcahuano, Chile.

Population: Fathers who participated in the birth of their first child (n = 220) between September 2015 to May 2016, in a public hospital in Chile.

Methods: The Swedish questionnaire "First Time Fathers Questionnaire" was used. As a first step, the questionnaire was translated to Spanish, followed by expert judgment of such translation and validation. For content validity, a descriptive analysis of the expert judgment and combined Kappa evaluation was performed. Construct validity with Exploratory Factor Analysis was done. Reliability based on internal consistency, was tested using Cronbach's Alpha. Criteria validity was tested with Pearson correlation and Student t-test, and logistic regression.

Main outcome measures: Questionnaire in Spanish with adequate evidence of reliability and validity.

Results: Two components were identified: "Support from the Health System" and "Father Worry", with 19 items and adequate internal reliability (0.84 and 0.79 respectively). There is a statistically significant inverse correlation between "Father Worry" and "Support from the Health System". There is a statistically significant association between "Father Worry" and the type of delivery, being higher in Caesarean sections. There is a statistically significant association between "Support of the Health System" and preparation for childbirth being higher in those who were prepared.

Conclusions: This study provides a validated instrument to assess the experience of fathers who participate in the birth of their first child in Latin America.

Implications for practice: The evaluation of the paternal experience during birth contributes to the knowledge of the male's emotional processes involved in this event. Midwifery is in a key position to promote a transcendent parental experience.

Keywords: Birth; Fathers; Questionnaire; Reliability; Validation.