“It is a lovely gift to get from the public health nurse”: Public health nurse perspectives on involvement in an infant book gifting scheme

The benefits of book gifting schemes for infants, parents and families, are well documented. While book gifting schemes operate around the world, and are delivered in different ways (e.g., postal services, local libraries, maternity hospitals and community centres), little is known about the benefits and challenges for those involved in delivering the schemes. This mixed methods study, based on a book gifting scheme in Ireland, reports findings from public health nurses (PHNs) regarding their involvement in an infant book gifting scheme. PHNs incorporated the delivery of an infant book gifting pack, and information leaflets about reading with infants, into their regular infant developmental health checks at 3 months and at 7-9 months. The findings from over 300 developmental checks indicate that participating PHNs were positive overall regarding their involvement in the scheme. Despite their heavy workload, in general, PHNs reported they had sufficient time available during the health checks to incorporate the book gifting. They highlighted the benefit of the scheme for parents and infants but also for PHNs themselves and their professional practice. The present paper discusses the findings in the context of ecological systems theory, notably, the role of the PHN in supporting infants and parents, and considers the implications of the findings for the delivery of infant book gifting schemes.