International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics

Paternal involvement in pregnancies could help reduce the risk of infant mortality in the first year of life, a new study has found.

According to researchers from the University of South Florida in the US, babies with absent fathers were four times more likely to die in their first year of life than children with two parents playing an active role.

Children with an absent father were also more likely to have lower birth weights and be pre-term or small for their age, the study, which examined the records of more than 1.39 million live births in Florida, found.

The father being present also decreased complications to the mother-to-be.

Mothers of babies lacking a paternal figure were more likely to experience conditions such as anaemia, chronic high blood pressure and pre-eclampsia.

"Our study suggests that lack of paternal involvement during pregnancy is an important and potentially modifiable risk factor for infant mortality," said lead author of the study, Amina Alio, research assistant professor of community and family health at the university.

"A significant proportion of infant deaths could be prevented if fathers were to become more involved."

According to the latest data from the World Bank, the infant mortality rate in the US has fallen consistently since 1960 to a rate of 6.7 per 1,000 live births in 2008.

Posted by Alexandra George