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Impact of maternal and paternal preconception health on birth outcomes using prospective couples' data in Add Health

Jennifer L Moss1, Kathleen Mullan Harris

  • 1Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, CB 7440, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-7440, USA, jlmoss@email.unc.edu.

Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics
|November 5, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Both maternal and paternal preconception health significantly impact infant birth outcomes like birthweight and gestational age. Promoting healthy habits and managing conditions like diabetes before conception is crucial for better birth results.

Area of Science:

  • Reproductive Health
  • Perinatal Epidemiology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Previous research indicates parental health influences newborn outcomes.
  • Studies often focus retrospectively, limiting prospective insights into preconception health impacts.
  • Understanding prospective preconception health is vital for future child well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To prospectively examine the influence of maternal and paternal preconception health on infant birthweight and gestational age.
  • To identify specific parental health conditions and behaviors affecting key birth outcomes.
  • To provide evidence for targeted preconception health interventions.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health).
  • Included interviews with participants and their partners (2001-02) and follow-up interviews (2008).
  • Regressed birth outcomes (N=372 infants) on preconception health data from non-pregnant partners.

Main Results:

  • Maternal diabetes or high blood pressure and monthly alcohol consumption were linked to higher birthweight.
  • Paternal diabetes was associated with lower infant birthweight.
  • Paternal diabetes and higher fast food consumption correlated with lower gestational age.

Conclusions:

  • Both maternal and paternal preconception health status significantly affect infant birthweight and gestational age.
  • Interventions should prioritize preventing diabetes and hypertension.
  • Reducing alcohol and fast food consumption pre-conception is recommended.
Abstract

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