A concept of Caribbean fatherhood

ABSTRACT

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)