The young father involvement in the prenatal care: the perspective of health professional

OBJETIVO: Conhecer a visão dos enfermeiros/as e médicos/as sobre a paternidade na adolescência; identificar ações direcionadas ao jovem pai no pré-natal. MÉTODOS: Pesquisa documental com abordagem qualitativa, com dados produzidos pelo projeto “Saúde sexual e reprodutiva como direito de mulheres e homens na atenção à saúde." Os documentos/entrevistas com profissionais que realizam consultas de pré-natal nas ESF possibilitaram a análise de conteúdo nas categorias: “Visão dos profissionais sobre paternidade na adolescência” e “Ações no pré-natal voltadas aos jovens pais”. RESULTADOS: As participantes declararam a diferença entre ser pai jovem e adulto, destacando-se a maturidade. A maioria condenou a gravidez na adolescência, e a não-frequência dos pais às consultas. CONCLUSÃO: Ser pai, em qualquer idade, não afasta as relações tradicionais de gênero, sendo sua inclusão insuficiente. Interpretar negativamente a paternidade na adolescência contribui no afastamento desse jovem pai aos serviços de saúde.

“I thought, Oh shit, because I was 19.” Discourses and practices on young fatherhood in Denmark

This article presents the voices of 30 young fathers from the first interview-based study in Denmark on young fatherhood. The findings show that men face significant challenges when they become fathers at a young age and that they often feel stigmatised by society. Young fatherhood, however, can also promote social integration and produce forms of empowerment. Unlike most international research on young fatherhood, this study shows that economic circumstances do not play a crucial role in the ability of fathers to gain access to their children. This may be due to support aimed at socially disadvantaged families provided by the state. The results further indicate that early fatherhood should be seen as a transitional process, rather than as an event, with the young father gradually abandoning teenage life and where a delay in the development of the father-child relationship does not necessarily rule out the later emergence of a stable father-child relationship.

Meanings attributed to fatherhood by adolescents

OBJECTIVE: To understand how adolescents perceive the experience and what meanings they attribute to fatherhood.METHODS: Research of a qualitative method, using interviews of 25 young people who had become fathers for the first time. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, taped and transcribed in their entirety. Data analysis occurred using an initial and then an exhaustive reading of the material, synthesis of the results obtained, and identification of implicit content.RESULTS: The analysis and interpretation of this material allowed us to identify three thematic categories: the role of the young father; gains and losses with fatherhood, and solutions adopted during the experienced difficulties. It was evident that the exercise of fatherhood contributed to the assumption of masculinity, to play the role of guardian of the home and provider for the family.CONCLUSION: Fatherhood was seen as a positive experience that transformed teenagers into adults.