Common and current sociocultural norms in Syria do not encourage fathers to be present or contribute during childbirth. Therefore, establishing culturally sensitive supportive policies and practices is a vital step toward overcoming these barriers.

In our study, we explored the roles of a father during childbirth as perceived by Arab Syrian parents. A descriptive phenomenological approach was used to analyze transcripts from interviews and focus groups. Four themes emerged: (a) psychological and spiritual support, (b) being present and concerned, (c) being ready and alert, and (d) fulfilling social obligations. Most women preferred to have their mothers with them during childbirth instead of their husbands. Current health policies do not encourage fathers to play active roles during childbirth and need revision, within culturally acceptable parameters and norms, to meet the health needs of clients.