Attitudes and extent of involvement of fathers in the health promotion of their children under five years old

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the attitude and extent of involvement of fathers in the health promotion of their children under five years old, at Ticud, Lapaz, Iloilo City. Specifically, this study aimed to determine the socio-demographic characteristics of fathers according to age, educational attainment, occupation, monthly income, number of children, and work of wife. This is a descriptive relational study employing one-shot survey design using self-administered questionnaire. The participants were 130 fathers with children under five years old. Descriptive statistical tools were used to analyze the frequency percentage and mean distribution of respondents according to their socio-demographic characteristics. Chi-square and Gamma were used to determine whether significant relationship exists between attitude and extent of involvement and the relationship among different variables. The results of the study revealed that majority of the respondents were on their mid-thirties, more than fifty percent were high school level and almost all of them were not gainfully employed. A high majority belongs to low-income group with income ranging from P5000 and below. Majority of them had one to two children and a great majority of the respondents’ wives were working. Generally, the respondents had very favorable attitude towards health promotion of their children, however, majority of them had poor involvement in the health status of their children under five years old. The data further show that the attitude of fathers towards health promotion and their extent of involvement is not significantly related to their socio-demographic characteristics according to age, educational attainment, occupation, monthly income, number of children and work of wife. As a whole, respondents ’attitude and extent of involvement in the health promotion of their children under-five years old were not determined by their socio-demographic characteristics.