African American Fathers' Support of Breastfeeding

PURPOSE: The purpose was to describe African American fathers' experiences and perceptions of their role in supporting their breastfeeding partners and identify strategies to enhance this role. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: Descriptive phenomenology guided the research process. Interviews were conducted with 12 African American fathers or partners recruited from community sites within the Southeastern United States between 2021 and 2022 whose partners had exclusively breastfed for at least 2 weeks within the last 24 months. RESULTS: Twelve African American fathers of breastfeeding partners were interviewed. Data analysis, guided by Colaizzi's analytic method, revealed three main themes central to the fathers' experiences in providing support: It's a Breastfeeding Journey, Like an Assistant, and Male Mindset Towards Breastfeeding, with relevant subthemes. Participants largely held positive attitudes toward breastfeeding, emphasizing infant health and bonding, but recognized the need for improved preparation for their role. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: The study highlighted the significant beliefs and behaviors of African American fathers involved in the support of partners while breastfeeding. A cultural male mindset was exposed that advocates for male-specific education, more attention to couple intimacy, and privacy in public breastfeeding. Findings emphasized the need for culturally competent interventions to strengthen paternal support and improve breastfeeding. Nurses can use these findings to evaluate current practices and improve strategies aimed at engaging and preparing fathers for their role in supporting breastfeeding partners.