Father’s perception of his role towards breastfeeding in the region of Ñuble, Chile, 2021

Abstract

Objective: To describe the perception of the father regarding the paternal role in exclusive breastfeeding in the region of Ñuble, Chile, during the year 2021 and 2022. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted with a phenomenological design of a non-probabilistic type. 7 parents were selected and a semi-structured interview of 20-35 minutes was conducted with each participant through the Zoom platform. In the analysis, the recordings of the interviews were used for subsequent transcription and coding. Results: 5 relevant classifications were obtained for the interpretation of the answers submitted by the participants. While all parents lived and live the breastfeeding process differently, everyone knows and recognizes the importance of their role in breastfeeding, and they also agree that this milestone generates different feelings and emotions. Conclusion: It is important that male fathers receive extensive information about breastfeeding and what it entails,so that they can be a concrete help during the breastfeeding period.