Health 14 June 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Fathers of Premature Babies Face Hidden Mental Health Struggles
During Uganda's Men's Mental Health Awareness Month, attention is focusing on the often-unseen emotional burden carried by fathers of premature infants. While mothers and newborns receive critical care, these fathers frequently grapple with fear, stress, and exhaustion in silence. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/magazines/healthy-living/the-mental-health-toll-on-fathers-of-premature-babies-5494554
Premature births place immense strain not only on mothers and newborns but also on the fathers, who often find themselves navigating the emotional and logistical challenges of neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) with little support.
Many fathers step into demanding roles, balancing work responsibilities with long hours at the hospital, providing comfort, and making critical decisions. The constant monitoring, complex medical jargon, and uncertainty surrounding their child’s survival can lead to significant anxiety and stress. Research indicates that fathers of premature infants are at a higher risk of experiencing symptoms of anxiety and depression compared to those with full-term babies.
Like John Nuwabiine, many fathers express deep worry, recounting how each call from a doctor heightened their fear of receiving bad news. The pressure to remain strong and problem-solve often leads men to suppress their own feelings of distress. This societal expectation, coupled with the financial burdens of hospitalisation and care, can exacerbate their mental toll.
While practices like kangaroo care—holding the baby skin-to-skin—are encouraged for fathers and prove beneficial for the baby’s development and parent-child bonding, they are not a substitute for emotional support. Dr. Sarah Nakanjako, a clinical psychologist, highlights that men frequently struggle in silence, with family members often assuming they are coping well due to their outward resilience.
Experts are now calling for greater recognition of fathers’ mental health needs within neonatal care settings. Creating environments that encourage paternal involvement and provide access to counselling and spaces for open discussion are crucial. As Uganda aims to improve newborn survival rates, actively supporting the mental well-being of fathers is an essential, yet often overlooked, component of comprehensive family care.
For more information on supporting fathers in neonatal care, read the full article from the Daily Monitor.