Objective To examine the father’s role when his partner and child are admitted to a perinatal mental health unit. Background Establishing attachment in the first months of life is crucial for infant mental health. Parental mental health and separation can interrupt the formation of attachment. Maternal postnatal mental health is known to affect the father’s well-being and mental health. A systematic review conducted found paternal depression in the first year after birth affects child behavioural and emotional difficulties. One previous study has gathered limited evidence of fathers experiences of a perinatal mental health unit. Method Eight interviews were conducted with fathers whose partner was a current or former inpatient in a perinatal psychiatric unit in Scotland. Grounded Theory was utilised in the collection and analysis of data. No participants reported symptoms of Depression, Anxiety, or Stress at time of interview. Transcripts were coded by the researcher and supervisors and categories were compared. Additionally, results were validated by a participant before completing analysis. Results Maternal postnatal mental illness and hospitalisation was challenging. Long admissions with infrequent visits were most difficult. The overarching category ‘managing the self and other relationships’ captured the father’s experience and how he tried to understand and manage, whilst making and maintaining family bonds. Five subcategories were Bonding with Baby, Keeping the Family Together, Feeling Contained, Feeling Overwhelmed, and Experiencing Uncertainty. Fathers had concerns about bonding and regarded the mother-baby bond as vital. Relationships were strained. Fathers experienced anxiety regarding illness and felt relief on admission. Fathers experienced demands such as work and travel. They tried to retain normality, take each day as it comes, and use family support to cope. Fathers were uncertain about illness and treatment and desired improved communication with professionals. Conclusion Severe maternal postnatal mental illness and inpatient admission affects fathers. Fathers have multiple demands which impact on participation in the unit. Fatherinfant bonding was affected by father availability. Recognition of the father’s experience and increasing father’s knowledge of illness and skills in caregiving is likely to improve the father’s experience and benefit the family.

Thesis (MBus (Research))--University of South Australia, 1996

This thesis is a study of a young woman coming to terms with her grief. It unpacks how an invitation to film an unusual and life-changing event developed into an opportunity to question the ethics of the interview. It examines how the intricacies of a trust relationship influence the very threads and textures of the resulting documentary. This paper is a partnership between a practical documentary project and a more traditional written discussion. The documentary Five Hours with Raja is weighted at eighty per cent of the final thesis and the written exegesis makes up the remaining twenty per cent. Together these two elements investigate the developing relationship between Claudia – the documentary’s key protagonist, and the filmmaker, investigating how their relationship has affected the style, method, content and even the fundamental story line of a documentary. It also discusses the consequential ethical considerations and dilemmas behind creative and practical decisions, investigating ways that a filmmaker can draw the participant into the process to allow a greater degree of ownership, a stronger voice and a more immediate sense of intimacy with the final audience.

Thesis (M.S.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1992. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 122-131). Also available via the Internet.

Thesis (D. Ed. Min.)--New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, 2005. / Includes abstract and vita. Includes final project proposal. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 135-146, 67-72).

Thesis (M.Psych.Org.) - University of Queensland, 2006. / Includes bibliography.

Thesis (D. Ed. Min.)--New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, 2005. / Includes abstract and vita. Includes final project proposal. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 135-146, 67-72).

Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2007. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains xii, 136 p. : ill. (some col.), maps. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 113-118).

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Michigan State University, 2008. / Adviser: Jim Bingen. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (MNutr)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Introduction Breastfeeding is a key child survival strategy. Mixed feeding (predominant and partial breastfeeding as defined by the World Health Organisation) during the first six months of life is associated with childhood morbidity and mortality, especially in resource-limited settings, and carries the highest risk of HIV transmission through breastfeeding. When compared to exclusive breastfeeding, predominant, partial or no breastfeeding increases the risk for pneumonia and diarrhoea-related mortality. National exclusive breastfeeding rates are poor and have not improved significantly over the past fourteen years, supporting investigation into the contextual factors that influence infant feeding practices. Aim The study aimed to determine the feeding practices of primary caregivers of infants (0-5.9 months) and the influencing factors in Avian Park and Zwelethemba in Worcester, in the Western Cape Province of South Africa, in order to make recommendations, where appropriate. Methods The study was conducted from April to August 2011. A cross-sectional community-based survey was performed using a structured questionnaire. Focus group discussions were held with mothers, fathers and maternal and paternal grandmothers of infants younger than six months, and health care workers (formally trained professionals and counsellors) working in child health. Results One hundred and forty primary caregivers were interviewed. All caregivers were the biological mother of the infant. Seventy-seven percent (n=108) had initiated breastfeeding. At the time of the study, 6% (n=8) breastfed exclusively. Ninety-four percent (n=132) applied suboptimal breastfeeding practices: 36% (n=51) breastfed predominantly, 27% (n=38) breastfed partially, and 31% (n=43) did not breastfeed. Ninety percent (n=126) of the mothers had introduced water, of whom 83% (n=104) had done so before their infants were one month old. Forty-four percent (n=61) of the mothers had introduced food or formula milk, of whom 75% (n=46) had done so before their infants were three months old. Knowledge of the health and economic benefits of breastfeeding supported initiation but several barriers to exclusive breastfeeding remained. The main barriers were 1) the widely-held perception that infants needed water and nonprescription medicines, 2) the concern that milk alone does not satisfy the infant, 3) inadequate infant feeding education and support by the health system, 4) the lack of community-based postnatal support, 5) convention and family influence, 6) mothers separated from their infants and 7) local beliefs about maternal behaviour and breastfeeding. HIV infection exerted a significant influence on infant feeding choice (p<0.001) and none of the HIV-infected mothers breastfed (n=19). Forty-five percent (n=19) of the formula feeding mothers over-diluted the milk, and early supplementation of formula milk with food was common. Health care workers and maternal grandmothers were the key role-players in infant feeding information and support. Conclusion Exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months of life was a rare practice in these communities. Water, formula milk and/or food were introduced at an early age. HIV-infection discouraged breastfeeding and formula feeding practices proved to be poor. Comprehensive education and support at antenatal, intrapartum and postnatal level seemed lacking and community perceptions and convention contributed to mixed feeding practices. Mothers seemed ill equipped to negotiate infant feeding practices with roleplayers at home. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Inleiding Borsvoeding is ‘n sleutelstrategie ter ondersteuning van kinderoorlewing. Gemengde voeding (hoofsaaklike en gedeeltelike borsvoeding, soos omskryf deur die Wêreldgesondheidsorganisasie) gedurende die eerste ses maande van lewe, sowel as geen borsvoeding, word geassosieer met kindersiektes and -sterftes, veral in gebiede met beperkte hulpbronne waar babas vatbaar is vir wanvoeding, gastroënteritis en longontsteking. Gemengde voeding dra ook die hoogste risiko vir MIV-oordrag deur borsvoeding. Nasionale eksklusiewe borsvoedingskoerse is swak en het nie oor die laaste veertien jaar verbeter nie. Dit dien as motivering vir die ondersoek na kontekstuele faktore wat babavoedingspraktyke beïnvloed. Doelwit Die doelwit van die navorsingsstudie is om voedingspraktyke van primêre versorgers van babas (0-5.9 maande) en die invloedryke faktore te bepaal in Avian Park en Zwelethemba in Worcester in die Wes-Kaap Provinsie van Suid-Afrika, om sodoende aanbevelings te kan maak waar gepas. Metodes Die studie is uitgevoer van April tot Augustus 2011. ‘n Gemeenskapsgebaseerde deursnee-opname is uitgevoer deur gebruik te maak van ‘n gestruktureerde vraelys. Fokusgroepbesprekings is uitgevoer met moeders, vaders, en oumas (aan moeders- en vaderskant) van babas jonger as ses maande, en gesondheidswerkers (formeel opgeleide werkers en beraders) wat in kindersorg werk. Resultate ‘n Onderhoud is met eenhonderd-en-veertig primêre versorgers gevoer. Al die versorgers was die biologiese moeder van die baba. Sewe-en-sewentig persent (n=108) het borsvoeding begin. Ten tye van die studie het 6% (n=8) eksklusief geborsvoed. Vier-en-negentig persent (n=132) het suboptimale borsvoedingspraktyke beoefen: 36% (n=51) het hoofsaaklik geborsvoed, 27% (n=38) het gedeeltelik geborsvoed en 31% (n=43) het nie geborsvoed nie. Negentig persent (n=126) van die moeders het water gegee, van wie 83% (n=104) dit gedoen het voordat hul babas een maand oud was. Vier-en-veertig persent (n=61) van die moeders het voedsel of formulemelk gegee, van wie 75% (n=46) dit gedoen het voordat hul babas drie maande oud was. Kennis van die gesondheids- en ekonomiese voordele van borvoeding het moeders ondersteun om te begin borsvoed, maar daar was steeds verskeie faktore wat eksklusiewe borsvoeding belemmer het. Die belangrikste hindernisse was 1) die algemene siening dat babas water en nie-voorskrif medisynes benodig, 2) die kommer dat alleenlik melk nie die baba bevredig nie, 3) ontoereikende babavoedingsonderrig en ondersteuning deur die gesondheidstelsel, 4) die gebrek aan gemeenskapsgebaseerde nageboorte-ondersteuning, 5) gebruike en die invloed van gesinslede, 6) moeders geskei van hul babas en 7) plaaslike sienings rakende moeders se gedrag en borsvoeding. MIV-infeksie het ‘n wesenlike invloed op voedingskeuse gehad (p<0.001) en geen van die MIV-positiewe moeders het geborsvoed nie (n=19). Vyf-en-veertig persent (n=19) van die formule voedende moeders het die melk oorverdun en vroeë supplementasie van formulemelk met kos was algemeen. Gesondheidswerkers en oumas was die kernrolspelers ten opsigte van baba-voedingsinligting en ondersteuning. Gevolgtrekking Eksklusiewe borsvoeding gedurende die eerste ses maande van lewe was ‘n seldsame praktyk in hierdie gemeenskappe. Water, formulemelk en/of voedsel is op ‘n vroeë ouderdom bekendgestel. MIV infeksie het borsvoeding ontmoedig en formulevoedingspraktyke was swak. Omvattende opvoeding en ondersteuning op voorgeboorte-, intrapartum- en nageboortevlak het ontbreek, en sienings en gebruike het bygedra tot gemengde voedingspraktyke. Dit het geblyk dat moeders nie toegerus was om oor babavoedingspraktyke met ander belanghebbendes by die huis te onderhandel nie.