早産児出生より1年間の父親としての経験 : 20代前半の男性へのインタビューから

qualitative study

看護総合科学研究会誌

The objective of the present study was to elucidate changes in the thoughts and feelings of fathers (age, early 20s) of preterm infants during the first year of their experience as fathers. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with two fathers whose first child was born preterm one year prior to the study and the data were analyzed using qualitative induction. The following five categories were identified following analysis: "state of panic due to preterm birth", "sense of relief about childbirth", "concern about the child", "actual feeling of the child's development", and "actual feeling of being a father". During their premature children's first year, fathers overcame various crises to establish relationships with their children. Contact with his child through the five senses was especially important to each father. Although young fathers felt it was difficult for their wives to take care of the premature infant, they tended to avoid expressing such thoughts to their wives. Our findings suggest that supporting relationships between fathers and their wives, and supporting the process in which young fathers gradually become aware of their roles as fathers are important for promoting interactions between fathers and their wives and children.