Creating Awareness on Fathers with Mentally Disabled Children in Relation to Paternity Roles

Aim: This study was conducted to determine the effect of the education for creating awareness/conscious about fatherhood role for the fathers who have a child attends a school and work center for intellectual disability child. Methods: This study was using single group with pre-post test and quasi-experimental design. The study was conducted with the father and mothers of 18 intellectual disabilities. Three participation format of father forms were regulated and education was prepared according to the Lamb s father typology. Data were collected by using Father and Mother Interview Form. According to the father and mother, data about fatherhood roles were collected and then the education for increasing awareness was organized. Fifteen days after the education data related to the fatherhood roles according to the parents were collected. The ethical committee and written consents of the parents were taken. For statistical analysis, mean,standard deviation and percentage and Wilcoxon test. Results and Conclusion: In the study, the fathers said that they participated to the ‘interaction’ and ‘responsibilities’ dimensions after the education more. Also, the mothers confirmed this increased participation, too (p 0.05); on the other hand ‘accessibility’ dimension which is the father participation statute was increased as numerical but it is not meaningful as statistically (p 0.05). After the study; it is found that the awareness about fatherhood roles of the fathers have a child with intellectual disability was increased as requested with the education.