The paternal component of the "healthy Migrant" effect: Fathers' natality and infants' low birth weight

Ambika Krishnakumar, Sandra D. Lane, Meghan Hall, Evaline Tso, Natasha Pinto, Navpriya Oberoi, William Suk, Zaki Badawy, Martha A. Wojtowycz, Richard Aubry

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

9 Scopus citations

Abstract

This study examines the predictors of birth outcomes among women of European and African ancestry and considers the birthplace of the babies' fathers (foreign born vs. native born) as a protective factor. This is a secondary data analysis of 146,431 singleton births among women of European and African ancestry, both native-born and foreign-born, in a 21 birth hospital region of Central New York State from 1996 to 2003. Foreign born fathers were found to have 15% fewer low birth weight infants than US-born fathers, after controlling for the race and birthplace of the mother, tobacco use and Medicaid. Although this secondary data analysis does not allow us to determine the social determinants of the better birth outcomes among infants of foreign born fathers, it does demonstrate that fathers matter and that foreign born fathers are associated with reduced low birth weight in their infants.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1350-1355
Number of pages6
JournalMaternal and Child Health Journal
Volume15
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2011

Keywords

  • Fathers
  • Healthy migrant
  • Low birth weight

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Epidemiology
  • Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
  • Obstetrics and Gynecology
  • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

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