Social support provided to Finnish mothers and fathers by nursing professionals in the postnatal ward

Objectives: to evaluate the amount of social support offered to Finnish mothers and fathers by nursing professionals in the postnatal ward, identify the type of additional support that mothers and fathers desire, and analyse the factors associated with support that mothers and fathers received in the postnatal ward. Methods: data were collected as part of a larger collaborative project called 'Urban Parenthood-Enhancing Well-being of Infants' Families' involving the well-being of families in the postnatal wards of two Finnish university hospitals during the winter of 2006-2007. Data were collected using a questionnaire designed to measure social support on a scale from 1 to 6. The questionnaire included two open-ended questions. Mothers and fathers completed the questionnaire independently, either in the postnatal ward or immediately after discharge. Findings: questionnaires were returned by 863 (66%) mothers and 525 (40%) fathers. The amount of support received from nursing professionals was moderate or little. Of the three types of support, mothers and fathers experienced 'affectional support' most strongly [mothers' mean 4.12, standard deviation (SD) 1.04; fathers' mean 3.98, SD1.25] and 'concrete support' least strongly (mothers' mean 3.08, SD 1.17; fathers' mean 3.03, SD 1.43). Least social support was received by parents in families where the mother was multiparous (p < 0.001) or older (p <= 0.001), and by fathers who were not able to stay in the ward around the clock (p < 0.001). Open-ended questions indicate that mothers and fathers desire greater social support in all its forms. Key conclusions: health care during the postnatal period should be developed such that it becomes more family centred, encouraging and resource strengthening. Implications for practice: Attention must be paid to the support received by older mothers and parents in families where the mother is multiparous. In addition, possibilities for fathers to participate in postnatal care must be increased. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.