Paternal Involvement and Adverse Birth Outcomes in South Gujarat, India

Nupur B Godbole; Megan S Moberg; Parth Patel; Jayesh Kosambiya; Hamisu M Salihu; Elba Adriana Campos; Lynette Menezes; Ragini Verma; Ronee Wilson

doi:10.21106/ijma.348

Paternal Involvement and Adverse Birth Outcomes in South Gujarat, India

Int J MCH AIDS. 2020;9(1):161-166. doi: 10.21106/ijma.348. Epub 2020 Feb 14.

Authors

Nupur B Godbole¹, Megan S Moberg¹, Parth Patel¹, Jayesh Kosambiya², Hamisu M Salihu³, Elba Adriana Campos⁴, Lynette Menezes⁵, Ragini Verma⁶, Ronee Wilson⁷

Affiliations

¹ Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA.
² Department of P&SM, Medical College New Civil Hospital, Surat, India.
³ Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Family and Community Medicine, 3701 Kirby Drive, MS: BCM700, Houston, TX 77098, USA.
⁴ Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA.
⁵ Department of Internal Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA.
⁶ Department of OBGYN, Medical College New Civil Hospital, Surat, India.
⁷ Lawton and Rhea Chiles Center for Healthy Mothers and Babies, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, USA.

Abstract

Background and objectives: While the impact of maternal factors on birth outcomes are widely reported, the extent to which paternal involvement and varying cultural family dynamics influence birth outcomes particularly in an international context, remain understudied. The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between paternal involvement and adverse birth outcomes in South Gujarat, India.

Methods: An in-person questionnaire was administered to adult women at delivery or during the one-month postpartum visit at New Civil Hospital, in South Gujarat, India between May and June 2016 to assess level of paternal support and attendance at prenatal appointments and household structure. Pregnancy variables including birthweight and gestational age at delivery were collected from maternal and newborn record/chart review. Chi-square and t-test were used to assess demographics, as appropriate. Logistic regression was used to examine the association between paternal involvement and pregnancy birth outcomes.

Results: Of the 404 infants born during the study period, 26.7% were premature (<37 weeks gestation) and 29% were of low birth weight (<2500g). More than 40% of the women surveyed reported their in-laws were the primary household decision-makers; however, those who reported high paternal attendance were less likely to report in-laws as the primary decision-maker (p=0.03). Adjusted logistic regression analysis indicated the odds of delivering a low birth weight infant were greater among mothers who reported low paternal support and low paternal attendance at prenatal visits (OR=2.99 (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.84-4.86) and OR=2.16 (95% CI: 1.35-3.47), respectively).

Conclusion and global health implications: Low paternal support during pregnancy may be a missed opportunity to increase healthy practices during pregnancy as well as decrease the risks associated with limited social support during pregnancy. It is important to consider varying socio-cultural family dynamics in different populations and how they may influence paternal involvement during pregnancy.

Keywords: Low birth weight; Paternal involvement; Paternal support; Pregnancy complications; Preterm birth.