Poster 49th Nutrition Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting 2025

Fatherhood and Food Insecurity: Narratives from the Antenatal Period (129964)

Amanda Dickson 1 2 , Fiona McKay 3 4 , Penny Love 1 2 , Nicola Heslehurst 5 , Paige van der Pligt 3 6 7
  1. School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, VIC 3125, Australia
  2. Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia
  3. School of Health and Social Development, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia
  4. Institute for Health Transformation, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC 3220, Australia
  5. Population Health Sciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, United Kingdom
  6. Department of Allied Health, School of Health Sciences, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC 3122, Australia
  7. Department of Nutrition, Western Health, Footscray, VIC 3011, Australia

Food insecurity, the inconsistent access to safe, affordable, and nutritious food, is a growing public health concern (1). The antenatal period, spanning pre-pregnancy to postpartum life-stages, is critical for shaping lifelong health (2). Whie antenatal food insecurity research has predominantly focused on mothers (2), the increasing recognition of fathers’ evolving roles in the antenatal period (3) highlights the need to understand how expectant fathers experience and manage food insecurity. Their perspectives are fundamental to supporting family food security and ensuring equitable nutrition outcomes. This study aims to explore the perceptions, attitudes, and experiences of food-insecure expectant fathers in Victoria, Australia regarding the impact of food insecurity during their partners pregnancy. Using a narrative inquiry approach, this qualitative study is interviewing a cohort of expectant fathers (n = 15) in Victoria, Australia. In-depth semi-structured interviews are being conducted at two timepoints: during pregnancy and three-months postpartum. First round interviews are currently underway and will be completed by December 2025. Preliminary analysis of interviews conducted to date identifies key themes, including stress and anxiety for adequate food provisioning, intergenerational influences and conflicts, isolation and invisibility of expectant fathers, limited structural support, and pragmatic acceptance whereby coping was seen as the only option. These themes are shaped by participants narratives, reflecting how diverse family structures, socioeconomic contexts, and cultural backgrounds influence their experiences. The preliminary findings offer valuable insights into how food-insecure expectant fathers reflect on the challenges of food provision and fatherhood during a critical life transition. By centring fathers’ voices during pregnancy, this study contributes to a deeper understanding of paternal involvement in family nutrition and food security. These findings will inform the development of inclusive public health strategies to better engage and support expectant fathers, promoting long-term food security for families.

  1. FAO, UNICEF, WFP & WHO (2023) The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2023. Rome: FAO
  2. Bell Z, Nguyen G, Andreae G et al. (2024) PLoS Med 21, e11004450
  3. Small A, Kavanagh SA, Macdonald JA et al. (2025) Nurs Health Sci 27, e70105