The role of fathers in feeding, care, and dental hygiene practices of children aged <6 years: A rapid scoping review

Background The contribution of fathers in the early stages of child development, especially in feeding care and dental hygiene practices, is increasingly recognized but not well-documented. This rapid scoping review aims to broadly map the existing literature on this subject, focusing on children aged less than six years, and to identify areas where further research is needed. Objectives To explore the extent and nature of research on fathers’ roles in feeding care and dental hygiene practices for children under six years old. The review aims to identify key themes, variations in fatherly involvement across different contexts, and gaps in the current literature. Methods A structured search of key databases, including PubMed, PsycINFO, and Scopus, was performed. Studies included in the review involved fathers of children aged less than six years and addressed aspects of feeding care or dental hygiene. The process involved screening for relevance, categorizing studies into thematic areas, and summarizing overarching themes. Results The search yielded 15 studies encompassing diverse geographical and socio-cultural contexts. The review underscores the variability in fathers’ roles, influenced by factors such as urbanization, education, and cultural norms. It reveals that while fathers often serve as financial providers and role models, direct involvement in feeding and dental hygiene is less common. Notably, the literature on fathers’ involvement in children’s dental hygiene is limited. Conclusions Fathers’ roles in feeding care and dental hygiene practices for children under six years are multifaceted and context dependent. The review highlights significant gaps, particularly in understanding the involvement of fathers in dental hygiene. Addressing these gaps through future research is essential for developing comprehensive family-centred health care strategies and policies. ### Competing Interest Statement The authors have declared no competing interest. ### Clinical Trial IRAS-ID-296259 ([ISRCTN10234623][1]) ### Funding Statement Logan Manikam & Priyanka Patil were funded via a National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Advanced Fellowship (Ref: NIHR300020) to undertake the Pilot Feasibility Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial of the NEON programme in East London. Prof Monica Lakhanpaul was funded by the NIHR Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care (CLAHRC) North Thames. ### Author Declarations I confirm all relevant ethical guidelines have been followed, and any necessary IRB and/or ethics committee approvals have been obtained. Yes The details of the IRB/oversight body that provided approval or exemption for the research described are given below: Ethics approval This study has obtained ethical approval from UCL Research Ethics Committee [Ethics ID 17269/001], Sponsor reference number: 142600, Funding Reference: NIHR300020 and IRAS number: 296259, Ref: 21/SW/0142. Study protocols and relevant documents were reviewed by UCL Research Ethics Committee, NHS Health Research Authority (HRA) and study partners involved in establishing data sharing agreement for linking participants' routine data (Tower Hamlets GP Care Group, London Borough of Newham Council). I confirm that all necessary patient/participant consent has been obtained and the appropriate institutional forms have been archived, and that any patient/participant/sample identifiers included were not known to anyone (e.g., hospital staff, patients or participants themselves) outside the research group so cannot be used to identify individuals. Yes I understand that all clinical trials and any other prospective interventional studies must be registered with an ICMJE-approved registry, such as ClinicalTrials.gov. I confirm that any such study reported in the manuscript has been registered and the trial registration ID is provided (note: if posting a prospective study registered retrospectively, please provide a statement in the trial ID field explaining why the study was not registered in advance). Yes I have followed all appropriate research reporting guidelines, such as any relevant EQUATOR Network research reporting checklist(s) and other pertinent material, if applicable. Yes All data produced in the present study are available upon reasonable request to the authors [1]: /external-ref?link_type=ISRCTN&access_num=ISRCTN10234623