Factors influencing men's involvement in parenting in Mayuge Town council

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to explore the factors influencing men’s involvement in parenting in Mayuge town council. The study specifically aimed to establish the socio-cultural factors and the economic factors that influence men involvement in parenting in Mayuge town council. The study was purely qualitative in nature with 8 participants who were selected using simple random sampling to participate in data collection. Data were collected using face-to-face in depth interviews with men. In addition, focus group discussion was conducted with one group comprising of men with children in the household. These were backed with four key informant interviews were conducted with 3 members of staff of the office of the LC1 and one cultural leader to get an overall picture of the factors influencing men’s involvement in parenting. Key informants were selected purposively as they had to be knowledgeable about parenting The study findings revealed a number of factors that influence men’s involvement in parenting in Mayuge town council. These included both socio-cultural and economic factors; the socio cultural factors included the need to take responsibility, weakness of women, polygamy and the need to instill moral discipline in children while the economic factors that influence men into parenting according to the findings include financial stability, employment, poverty as well as the levels of income of the man. The study further revealed that parenting styles of both men and women are different in that men are more incline into authoritative parenting of children. Finally, the study recommends need for enlightening of men in regards to the changing roles on men in the family. This will better prepare men and encourage them to be present for their families as opposed to being absent. Providing men with information regarding parenting and the different roles will enable them to appreciate and embrace their roles as parents and main providers of the family. Secondly, parenting issues has more to do with showing love and compassion to the family and children as a result men should be educated on how to get involved in parenting affairs without necessarily being rich because at the end a poor present parent is better than a rich absent parent.