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Paternal factors and adverse birth outcomes in Lanzhou, China
1Research center, Gansu Provincial Maternity and Child Care Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu, China.
Insights
Paternal factors like low education, smoking, and lower weight/BMI are linked to adverse birth outcomes including low birth weight, preterm birth, and small for gestational age. These findings highlight the importance of paternal health in pregnancy.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Health
- Perinatal Epidemiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Maternal health is extensively studied for its impact on birth outcomes.
- Paternal factors' influence on adverse birth outcomes remains inconsistently reported.
- This study investigates the association between paternal characteristics and low birth weight (LBW), preterm birth (PTB), and small for gestational age (SGA).
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the association between paternal factors and adverse birth outcomes.
- To identify specific paternal characteristics linked to LBW, PTB, and SGA.
- To provide evidence for paternal health's role in optimizing pregnancy outcomes.
Main Methods:
- A birth cohort study was conducted from 2010-2012 in Lanzhou, China.
- Data collected included paternal age, ethnicity, education, height, weight, BMI, smoking, and drinking habits.
- Birth outcomes (LBW, PTB, SGA) and pregnancy complications were extracted from medical records.
Main Results:
- Higher paternal height, weight, and BMI were associated with reduced LBW rates.
- Increased paternal education and weight correlated with lower PTB rates.
- Paternal smoking (>6 pack-years) was linked to higher PTB rates, while higher paternal BMI and education were associated with lower SGA rates.
Conclusions:
- Low paternal education is independently associated with PTB and SGA.
- Paternal smoking is a risk factor for PTB.
- Lower paternal weight and BMI are independently associated with LBW, PTB, and SGA.
Background:
Many maternal factors are known to be associated with adverse birth outcomes, but studies about paternal factors yielded inconsistent conclusions. The study was to assess whether paternal factors are associated with low birth weight (LBW), preterm birth (PTB), and small for gestational age (SGA).
Methods:
A birth cohort study was conducted in 2010-2012 at the Gansu Provincial Maternity and Child Care Hospital, the largest maternity and childcare hospital in Lanzhou, China. Paternal age, ethnicity, educational level, height, weight, smoking, and drinking were collected. Birth outcomes and pregnancy complications were extracted from the medical records.
Results:
During the study period, 10,121 participants were included; the overall prevalence of LBW, PTB, and SGA was 7.2, 9.9, and 7.8%, respectively. Paternal higher height (OR = 0.64 95%CI: 0.49, 0.83), higher weight (P for trend < 0.001), and higher BMI (P for trend < 0.001) could decrease the rate of LBW. Paternal higher education (OR = 0.55, 95%CI: 0.43, 0.71) and higher weight (P for trend < 0.001,) were associated with lower rate of PTB. Fathers who smoked more than 6 pack-years were associated with PTB (OR = 1.31, 95%CI: 1.07, 1.61). Paternal BMI > 23.9 kg/m2 (P for trend < 0.001,) and paternal education which above college (OR = 0.61, 95%CI: 0.50, 0.82) were associated with a lower rate of SGA.
Conclusion:
Paternal low education is independently associated with PTB and SGA. Paternal heavy smoking is associated with PTB. Low paternal weight/BMI is independently associated with LBW, PTB, and SGA.
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