Browsing by Author "Mitchell, Jennifer"

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    Just Fun or Fundamental? Fathers’ Narratives of Leisure with Their Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder
    (2017) Mitchell, Jennifer; Lashewicz, Bonnie; Hughson, Anne; McIntyre, Lynn; Dewey, Deborah; McConnell, David; Badry, Dorothy
    Anchored in the generative fathering framework and critical disability studies (CDS), I used a narrative approach to study 11 fathers’ stories of leisure with their children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to highlight how leisure activities are given meaning and constructed as part of active fathering. I produced four narratives - narratives of action, narratives of adjustment, narratives of tension and narratives of relationships that captured fathers’ experiences of leisure with their children with ASD. Narratives of action are the stories of what fathers are doing in their day- to- day interactions with their children. Narratives of adjustment depict how fathers have shifted and re-defined expectations of their children and themselves following their children’s diagnosis of ASD. Narratives of tension capture fathers’ strain in concurrently having to acquiesce and advocate against financial, environmental and societal constraints. Lastly, in narratives of relationships, fathers illustrate the relational outcomes of their involvement with their children, including an appreciation of their children’s individuality and the father-child connection. The findings augment a deeper understanding of fathering children with ASD and the father-child relationship. By understanding fathers’ perceived successes and challenges in leisure activities in the home and community settings, service providers can better engage and support fathers in home- and community-based leisure.
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    Men perspectives on attending antenatal care visits with their pregnant partners in Misungwi district, rural Tanzania: a qualitative study
    (2021-01-28) Boniphace, Maendeleo; Matovelo, Dismas; Laisser, Rose; Swai, Hadija; Yohani, Victoria; Tinka, Sylvia; Mwaikasu, Lusako; Mercader, Hannah; Brenner, Jennifer L; Mitchell, Jennifer
    Abstract Background Mens’attendance with their pregnant partners at facility-based antenatal care (ANC) visits is important for maternal and child health and gender equality yet remains uncommon in parts of rural Tanzania. This study examined men’s perspectives on attending ANC with their pregnant partners in Misungwi District, Tanzania. Methods Twelve individual interviews and five focus group discussions were conducted using semi-structured questionnaires with fathers, expectant fathers, and in-depth interviews were done to health providers, volunteer community health workers, and village leaders. Interviews were recorded and transcribed in Swahili and later translated to English. The research team conducted thematic analysis to identify common themes among interviews. Results We identified two broad themes on the barriers to male attendance at facility-based ANC visits: (1) Perceived exclusion during ANC visits among men (2) Traditional gender norms resulting to low attendance among men. Conclusion Attendance at health facility for ANC visits by men with their pregnant partners in the study areas were challenged by structural and local cultural norms. At the facility men were uncomfortable to sit with women due to lack of specific waiting area for men and that they perceived to be neglected. Local cultural norms demanded women to have secrecy in pregnancy while men perceived not to have a role of being with their partners during ANC visits.