Infant mortality may reduce with father’s presence, say experts

The Times of India quoted lead study author Amina Alio, research assistant professor of community and family health, USF as saying, “Our study suggests that lack of paternal involvement during pregnancy is an important and potentially modifiable risk factor for infant mortality.”

Research details
For the study, researchers evaluated the records of over 1.39 million live births in Florida from 1998 to 2005.

Though the father’s involvement was characterized by his name on the child’s birth certificate, the extent to which he was actually present during the pregnancy could not be measured solely by the certificate.

However, the study showed that involvement of the father cut back the risk of complications experienced by the expectant mother.

The results also revealed that fatherless infants were more likely to be born pre-term or under-weight. They were also found to be small for their ideal gestational age.

Researchers stated that the neonatal death rate of infants with absent fathers was four times that of their counterparts with fathers.

However, despite socioeconomic differences, fatherless children born to black women had a seven-fold risk of death in contrast to infants born to Hispanic and white women in similar situations.

Results of partner’s absence on females
In addition, women bearing children in absence of their partners were more likely to suffer obstetric complications resulting in premature births and causing anemia, chronic high blood pressure, eclampsia, and placental abruption.

The study also revealed that women with absent partners were more likely to smoke during pregnancy and get into careless prenatal (before childbirth) activities.

Researchers hence noted that partner’s presence and support helps reduce the expectant mothers’ emotional stress and hassles along with promoting healthy prenatal behaviour.

Previous studies have also linked these factors to poor pregnancy outcomes.

Stressing on father’s involvement during childbirth, Alio was quoted by Toronto Sun as saying, “When fathers are involved, children thrive in school and in their development.”

“So, it should be no surprise that when fathers are present in the lives of pregnant mothers, babies fare much better,” added the researcher.

The study appears in the Journal of Community Health.