Midwifery. 2026 Jun 19;161:104900. doi: 10.1016/j.midw.2026.104900. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Low paternal self-efficacy in essential newborn care has been associated with reduced father involvement in caregiving and weaker father-infant attachment.
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of essential newborn care training, delivered through different instructional methods, on paternal self-efficacy and father-infant attachment.
DESIGN: A prospective, three-arm randomized controlled trial with a pre-test-post-test design was conducted using a 1:1:1 allocation ratio.
PARTICIPANTS: First-time fathers residing in [xxx Province] were recruited through the obstetrics and gynecology department during the early postnatal (neonatal) period and randomly assigned to one of three groups (n = 25 per group): web-based, face-to-face, or control.
METHODS: This randomized controlled trial included three groups: web-based, face-to-face, and control. Fathers in the intervention groups received essential newborn care training either via an online platform or through in-person sessions, while the control group received routine care. Data were collected at baseline and after the intervention using validated measurement tools assessing paternal self-efficacy and father-infant attachment. Descriptive statistics summarized the data: categorical variables were presented as frequencies and percentages, while continuous variables were expressed as means, standard deviations, and minimum-maximum values. Group homogeneity was evaluated using the Pearson chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test for categorical variables, and one-way ANOVA for continuous variables. The Shapiro-Wilk test assessed normality. Intergroup differences were analyzed using one-way ANOVA. Intragroup changes over time were assessed with repeated measures one-way ANOVA. A two-way repeated measures ANOVA assessed the interaction effects of group and time.
RESULTS: The mean age of the fathers ranged from 30.45 ± 4.80 to 32.04 ± 5.02 years across the groups, with no significant difference between groups (p > 0.05). Data from 73 participants were included in the final analysis. Following the newborn care training, paternal self-efficacy, and father-infant attachment levels significantly increased in both the web-based (p < 0.05) and face-to-face (p < 0.05) intervention groups compared to the control group. Paternal self-efficacy levels in the web-based group were significantly higher than in both the face-to-face and control groups.
CONCLUSION: Web-based newborn care education programs appear to be effective in increasing paternal self-efficacy and father-infant bonding.
PMID:42365684 | DOI:10.1016/j.midw.2026.104900
