Aim: To identify the risk factors associated with paternal perinatal depression and anxiety.Methods: Studies published between January 1950 to December 2017 which report paternal depression and anxiety in the perinatal period were obtained from five different databases. In total 84 studies were included in the systematic review, and 31,310 participants from 45 studies were included in the final meta-analysis.Results: Risk factors obtained were classified based on the frequency of distribution of factors. Maternal depression is an important risk factor for fathers in the postnatal period (OR= 3.34, 95% CI (2.51-4.46)). Marital distress was also linked to a two-fold increase in the likelihood of paternal depression in the postnatal period (OR=2.16, 95% CI (1.47-3.19)).Parenting stress as a risk factor was strongly and significantly associated with paternal anxiety in perinatal period (OR= 14.38,)). Conclusion:The findings suggest that maternal depression, marital distress, and parental stress are important risk factors for fathers' mental health in the perinatal period. The current meta-analysis also identifies gender role stress, domestic violence, and mismatched expectancies from pregnancy and childbirth as the risk factors which are unique to fathers only in the perinatal period. Future intervention programs should screen and target fathers with no previous children, a depressed partner, and aim to enhance relationship satisfaction.

The purpose of this study was to identify the risk factors associated with paternal perinatal mental distress in a sample of Australian men. A mixed-methods design was used. The qualitative component ( N = 13) using thematic analysis identified maternal depression, marital distress, masculine gender role stress, unplanned pregnancy, work–family conflict, and sleep disturbance as risk factors for paternal perinatal mental distress. The quantitative component ( N = 525) expanded on the qualitative findings and examined the associations between the identified risk factors and mental distress of fathers in the perinatal period measured by Edinburgh postnatal depression scale. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis revealed six significant predictors of paternal perinatal mental distress with masculine gender role stress being the most significant risk factor for paternal perinatal mental distress. The results from this study provide an insight into how masculine gender role may affect the expression and experience of mental distress in fathers within the perinatal period. Implications of research findings are discussed.

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Introduction: Despite substantial investment in rural workforce support, sustaining the necessary recruitment and retention of general practitioners (GPs) in rural areas remains a challenge. Insufficient medical graduates are choosing a general/rural practice career. Medical training at postgraduate level, particularly for those 'between' undergraduate medical education and specialty training, remains strongly reliant on hospital experience in larger hospitals, potentially diverting interest away from general/rural practice. The Rural Junior Doctor Training Innovation Fund (RJDTIF) program offered junior hospital doctors (interns) an experience of 10 weeks in a rural general practice, aiming to increase their consideration of general/rural practice careers This study aimed to evaluate the educational and potential workforce impact of the RJDTIF program. Methods: Up to 110 places were established during 2019-2020 for Queensland's interns to undertake an 8-12-week rotation (depending on individual hospital rosters) out of regional hospitals to work in a rural general practice. Participants were surveyed before and after the placement, although only 86 were invited due to the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Descriptive quantitative statistics were applied to the survey data. Four semistructured interviews were conducted to further explore the experiences post-placement, with audio-recordings transcribed verbatim. Semi-structured interview data were analysed using inductive, reflexive thematic analysis.