Zeytinoğlu, SenemDavey, Maureen P.Crerand, CaniceFisher, Kathleen2016-11-102016-11-10Copyright2016-04-21Fathers of children born with cleft lip and palate: Impact of the timing of diagnosis. Zeytinoğlu, Senem; Davey, Maureen P.; Crerand, Canice; Fisher, Kathleen Families, Systems, & Health, Vol 34(2), Jun 2016, 150-158. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/fsh0000198 .1091-7527 ; e- 1939-0602http://udspace.udel.edu/handle/19716/19835Author's final draft after peer reviewINTRODUCTION: Cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) affects not just the child born with the condition but also the child’s parents. Prior research has been primarily cross-sectional, quantitative, and focused on mothers’ emotional, social, and care experiences. Fathers’ experiences have been neglected despite the important role fathers have in their child’s well-being and development. The purpose of this study was to examine how the timing of a child’s diagnosis (prenatal versus postnatal) affects how fathers cope and adapt. METHOD: We conducted a descriptive qualitative study with a convenience sample of 17 fathers and used thematic content analysis to code the interviews. The sample included ten fathers who received a prenatal diagnosis and seven who received a postnatal diagnosis. RESULTS: The following four major themes emerged: (1) first hearing the diagnosis, (2) taking care of a baby with cleft, (3) future concerns, and (4) reflections. Course of treatment, feeding and social stigma were reported as major sources of stress for all fathers. DISCUSSION: All fathers should be routinely assessed by CL/P treatment teams and included in support services. Some fathers whose babies were diagnosed at birth experienced self-blame, suggesting the importance of screening this group of fathers for distress at birth. Findings underscore the importance of family-centered approaches to care that include both mothers and fathers in treatment planning, interventions, and future research.en-USThis article may not exactly replicate the authoritative document published in the APA journal. It is not the copy of record. Copy of authors final peer-reviewed manuscript as accepted for publication Authors\' post-print on author\'s web-site, employers server or institutional repository, after acceptanceArticlehttp://dx.doi.org/10.1037/fsh0000198