Paternal Age, Paternal Presence and Children's Health: An Observational Study.

Julian Gardiner,Alastair G Sutcliffe,Jacqueline Barnes,Edward Melhuish

doi:10.4081/pr.2015.5659

Julian Gardiner, Alastair G Sutcliffe + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.4081/pr.2015.5659

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Journal: Pediatric reports	Publication Date: Feb 24, 2015
Citations: 7	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Birkbeck, University of London

Abstract

In an observational study of 31,257 children we investigated the effects of paternal age at the time of the child’s birth, paternal absence and non-biological fathers on children’s health. Results are per 5 year change in paternal age. Older fathers were associated with lower rates of unintentional injuries, odds ratio (OR)=0.966, P=0.0027. There was a quadratic association between paternal age and risk of hospital admission, β=0.0121, P=0.0109, with minimum risk at paternal age 37.7. Absent fathers were associated with increased risk of hospital admission, OR=1.19, P<10−3, lower rates of complete immunizations to 9 months, OR=0.562, P<10−3, higher Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) difficulties scores: β=0.304, P=0.0024 (3 year olds), β=0.697, P<10−3 (5 year olds). Non-biological fathers were associated with increased risk of unintentional injury, OR=1.16, P=0.0319 and hospital admission, OR=1.26, P=0.0166; lower rates of complete immunizations to 9 months, OR=0.343, P=0.0309 and higher SDQ difficulties scores: β=0.908, P<10−3.

Highlights

We investigate the points in the studies were: at 9 months three Family type was classified as follows: i) child hypothesis that paternal age at the time of the doses of vaccines against diphtheria, tetanus, being raised by natural mother and natural child’s birth may affect the same child pertussis, polio and hemophilus influenza type father, ii) child being raised by natural mother health outcomes with older fathers associated b; and by 3 years boosters for diphtheria, and a male partner, iii) with more positive outcomes for their children. tetanus, pertussis, polio, and vaccinations child being raised by natural mother alone
(95%CI: 0.77 to 0.90, P
Advanced paternal age has been associated with poorer neurocognitive outo comes for younger children.[34]

Summary

Introduction

Families were Children from single parent (father absent) rates of attrition compared favorably with less likely to drop out where the mother was households have been found to be more likely other studies, and the use of multiple imputaolder, OR=0.86 per 5 year increase in maternal to have psychiatric illness, attempt suicide and tion should largely correct any resulting bias.

Results

Conclusion