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Assessing the impact of paternal involvement on racial/ethnic disparities in infant mortality rates

Amina P Alio1, Alfred K Mbah, Jennifer L Kornosky

  • 1Department of Community and Family Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA. aalio@health.usf.edu

Journal of Community Health
|June 1, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Paternal involvement significantly impacts infant mortality rates and racial disparities. Increasing father presence could prevent a substantial portion of excess infant deaths, particularly among Black and Hispanic populations.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Sociology
  • Demography

Background:

  • Racial disparities in infant mortality persist in the United States.
  • The role of paternal involvement in these disparities is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the contribution of paternal involvement to racial disparities in infant mortality.
  • To quantify the potential impact of increased paternal involvement on reducing infant mortality.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of vital records data for singleton births in Florida (1998-2005).
  • Paternal involvement defined by the presence/absence of father's name on the birth certificate.
  • Calculation of odds ratios (OR), 95% confidence intervals (CI), and preventative fractions.

Main Results:

  • Infants born to Black mothers with absent fathers had a seven-fold increased risk of mortality compared to NH-white women with involved fathers.
  • Paternal absence widened the Black-White infant mortality gap nearly four-fold.
  • Increased paternal involvement could potentially prevent 65-75% of excess infant mortality.

Conclusions:

  • Paternal involvement is a significant factor in infant mortality and associated racial disparities.
  • Interventions promoting perinatal paternal involvement may effectively reduce infant mortality and narrow racial gaps.

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