Fletcher Richard: The Assessment and Support of New Fathers Father-infant Attachment as a Basis for Psychosocial Assessment and Support

The assessment of men s needs as they become fathers
is essential to improve health outcomes for fathers,
infants and mothers. However fathers needs reach
beyond his own wellbeing to include his need to
support the mother and his need to form a secure
bond with their infant. Based on a review of
attachment theory and using the template of
psychosocial assessment currently employed for women
a framework for assessing new fathers needs is laid
out. The opportunity to support new fathers via the
internet is explored by considering how well
existing web sites meet the information and support
needs of new fathers. A randomised control trial
utilising professional support and newly developed
electronic information packages illustrates the
nature and scope of services required by new
fathers.