An Investigation of Forced Migrant Fathers’ Experiences, and Interventions to Support their Maternity Journey in the UK

Background: Migrant women experience poor maternal health outcomes in the maternity journey compared to natives. Migrant fathers accompanying these women may experience similar issues. No research has focused on the barriers they may face considering their socio-cultural construction of maternity. Aim: The aim of this applied health research thesis is to explore the lived experiences of forced migrant fathers regarding the maternity journey in the UK, prioritise their barriers and work with stakeholders to identify feasible interventions. Methods: Using Hermeneutic Phenomenological research design, a four-stage process was adopted involving the following: (a) A systematic review to identify the gaps in literature (b) adapted virtual semi-structured interviews with 14 forced migrant fathers to (c) virtual nominal group technique ranking exercise involving six forced migrant fathers (d) adapted virtual semi-structured interviews involving six stakeholders. Results: Barriers related to playing second fiddle, adapting to alien NHS maternity service, and living in the asylum system. Three prevailing barriers ranked in the NGT exercise: lack of community support centres to support migrant fathers’ UK maternity journey, fear of being charged and financial burden as breadwinner and lack of access to knowledge about the maternity process in the UK. Feasibility of community support centres, interventions to address being charged and increasing maternity knowledge were intervention themes identified. Conclusion: Forced migrant fathers’ unmet needs in the maternity journey in the UK highlight the existence of wider challenges they face. Feasible interventions that reflect their unmet needs were developed in consultation with stakeholders.

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

University of Bradford

Author dc:creator

• Mprah, Andy

Advisors dc:contributor.advisor

• Haith-Cooper, Melanie
• Meddings, Fiona
• Duda, Eva Anna
• Parveen, Sahdia

• Forced migrant fathers
• Refugee fathers
• Asylum seeker fathers
• Maternity journey experience
• Maternity Care
• Parental involvement
• Hermeneutic phenomenology
• Framework analysis
• Masculinity
• Interventions

Statement dc:rights

• <a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/"><img alt="Creative Commons License" style="border-width:0" src="http://i.creativecommons.org/l/by-nc-nd/3.0/88x31.png" /></a><br />The University of Bradford theses are licenced under a <a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/">Creative Commons Licence</a>.

Language dc:language.iso

en

Repository record dc:identifier.uri

https://bradscholars.brad.ac.uk/handle/10454/20442

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:bradscholars.brad.ac.uk:10454/20442