Fatherhood in St Kitts: Patterns and predictors of partnership and paternal dynamics in a Caribbean island

OBJECTIVE: To characterize key patterns of paternal behaviour in the Caribbean island of St Kitts. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A convenience, community-based sample of 102 fathers was recruited. The selection criteria were being a father between 21 and 40 years of age who lives currently in St Kitts and has a biological child, or a step child, or both biological and step children aged 2–10years. Participants were asked to complete one of three versions of a fatherhood questionnaire to provide basic sociodemographic information and enable the testing of three hypotheses concerning variation in partnership and paternal measures. RESULTS: A sample of 102 working fathers who expressed generally favourable attitudes and investments in a relatively low-fertility context participated. Results revealed differences in partnership dynamics and paternal outcomes with respect to relationship status, with married men reporting higher quality partnerships and providing more paternal care than fathers in visiting relationships. Partnership quality predicted a number of paternal outcomes such as supportive paternal attitudes and paternal behaviour. In both between- and within-subject analyses, biological fathers showed evidence of more favourable paternal attitudes and investments compared with stepfathers. CONCLUSIONS: This study of fatherhood in St Kitts providesa portrait of men’s work and family life in a small Caribbean island. Relationship status and quality are associated with key features of paternal attitudes and investment, and some measures of fathers’ attitudes and investments are contingent upon step vs biological status. These data illustrate how key features of Kittitian paternal life can be placed in the social context.

A concept of Caribbean fatherhood

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the manner in which Jamaican men view themselves and their relationships with women and their role in family life as partners and fathers. METHODS: A two-stage stratified random sample was used to select men aged 15-40 years in three parishes, Kingston, St.Andrew and Hanover. Enumeration districts and dwellings were selected in the first and second stages, respectively. In selected dwellings, all males 15-40 years were identified among the eligible males who had fathered at least one child. From these, one respondent was randomly selected. A questionnaire was administered to the sample yield of 714. Focus group discussions were held with a subset of the sample. Eight focus groups were held, four each in rural and urban areas among men 15-24 years, and similarly among men 25-40 years. RESULTS: The majority (64 percent) of the men who currently either in visiting or common-law unions and 23 percent had formed these unions between the ages of 15 and 19 years. Most (58 percent) had spent one to six years in their current union, of which the largest group (26 percent) spent one and a half to three years. Just over two-thirds of the children were born in current unions and those born outside of the current union were born in visiting unions (41 percent). Approximately 44 percent of the respondents' children were not living with them; 80 percent were living with their mothers. Respondents (87 percent) reported that they were involved in their children's lives. Major involvement was the provision of food (52 percent), clothes (51 percent) and health care (51 percent). The main obstacle identified for male participation in parenting was their marginal economic status. Significant relationships (p<0.1) were: the increase in the fathering role with age; fathers who were not household heads were less involved in their children's lives, especially when a step-father was present and the economic contribution of fathers was strongly related to their economic status. Contact between parents was significantly influenced by the age of both the father and the children. CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicate that fatherhood is hinged in the ability of the men to make economic and material contributions to their family. In general, men wanted a better life for their children but faced real constraints. Poverty was the major factor preventing men from performing the role they consider central to their concept of fatherhood. (AU)

Challenges in parenting as it relates to health

Parenting should not only be seen as the mother raising the child as is the tradition, but the role of the father should also be emphasized. Various health problems arising in both mother and child are discussed especially those occurring in disabled children and teenage mothers. It is important to realize that the family is of prime significance for national planning and that population growth is of importance at any stage of social or economic planning. We as health workers should therefore ensure that information about family planning and fertility control is available and easily accesible. [AU]