Abstract: Expectant Fathers' Presence at Ultrasound: Opportunity for Engagement (Society for Social Work and Research 21st Annual Conference - Ensure Healthy Development for all Youth)

Schedule:

Saturday, January 14, 2017: 10:05 AM

La Galeries 4 (New Orleans Marriott)

* noted as presenting author

Tova Walsh, PhD, Assistant Professor, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI

Richard Tolman, PhD, Professor, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor, MI

Shawna J. Lee, PhD, Associate Professor, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor, MI

Vijay Singh, MD, Clinical Lecturer, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor, MI

Background: Fathers’ prenatal involvement impacts maternal and child health and wellbeing. . Fathers’ presence at prenatal ultrasounds has been associated with increased support of mothers and greater paternal-fetal attachment. Ultrasounds may be an underutilized opportunity to engage fathers and establish or reinforce a trajectory of positive involvement. To our knowledge, there are no prior nationally representative studies of fathers’ report of presence at prenatal ultrasound,.

Methods: The Men’s Health, Fatherhood, and Relationships Study is a cross-sectional study of young men ages 18 – 35, conducted with a nationally representative survey panel established through probability sampling of the U.S. population. We examined a subset of this sample: fathers of children birth to three years old (N=246). Fathers of children birth to three reported presence at prenatal ultrasounds for their youngest child. We conducted multivariate analyses of factors associated with fathers’ presence at ultrasound.

Results: Overall, 88% of fathers reported that they had been present at a prenatal ultrasound for their youngest child. Fathers were less likely to report presence at ultrasound if they were unmarried or if they had low level of educational attainment. Father’s age, race, employment status and household income were not associated with likelihood of attending prenatal ultrasound.

Conclusions: This study shows that a substantial proportion of US fathers attend at least one prenatal ultrasound during their partner’s pregnancy. Even among unmarried fathers and fathers with lower educational attainment, a substantial majority reported presence at a prenatal ultrasound. These results indicate that it is normative for fathers in the U.S. to accompany their partner to a prenatal ultrasound. The ultrasound visit – and pregnancy in general – may be a “magic moment” to engage fathers to support their partner and provide anticipatory guidance in infant care, as well as to engage fathers in other social work services. Given that prior studies have shown strong and consistent associations between a father’s prenatal and postnatal involvement, efforts to actively engage fathers at ultrasound may have impact in promoting and sustaining father-child attachment and involvement.