Parental Participation and Associated Determinants among Paternal and Maternal in Neonatal Care Units: Comparative Study

Abstract

Background: High-risk infant care is performed in a hospital neonatal unit, which often results in separation from parents. Parental involvement is critical to sustaining parent-infant interaction and positively impacting infant outcomes. Understanding gender differences in participation in neonatal care is crucial for understanding parental experiences. This study aimed to assess differences in participation between paternal and maternal and to identify factors associated with participation among parents. Methods: This was a quantitative, cross-sectional study. A total of 257 parents (73 fathers, 184 mothers) aged 18–48 years were recruited in the neonatal unit. The Co-Partner tool was used to evaluate participation levels, assessing six domains. Mann-Whitney test and multiple regression analysis were used. Result: The results show a significant gender difference in total participation scores, with paternal scores lower than maternal (p=0.001). Paternal also had lower scores in the domains of participation in daily care (p=0.001), participation in medical care (p=0.001), acquiring information (p=0.001), parent advocacy (p=0.001), time spent with the infant (p=0.008), and closeness and comforting the infant (p=0.001). Regression analysis showed that paternal age was positively associated with participation (β = 3.75, p = 0.044), whereas no sociodemographic factors were significantly associated with maternal participation. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate a need for interventions that increase father involvement and promote the important role of parental participation, particularly fathers’, in infant care within the neonatal unit, to optimize the care process for infants.