Midwife-led care before, during and after childbirth – the best option for most women and babies

Literature review shows that fathers are still not receiving the support they want and need from Swedish child health professionals

Sweden has a reputation for gender equality, and its child health services seek to support both parents. However, this meta-ethnographic analysis of 62 studies from 2000 to 2015 covering prenatal clinics, labour and birth wards, postnatal wards and child health centres found programmes had not been designed around paternal needs. Therefore, despite the policy change nearly 50 years ago to include both parents, fathers were still not fully accepted and supported.

CONCLUSION

To provide fathers in Sweden with greater support throughout the child health field, organisational changes should be considered, as this could provide further beneficial outcomes for children, families and society.