Relation of Paternal Health with Pregnancy Outcome

Abstract

Background & Objective: The father contributes in the chromosomal make-up of the child, in addition he is contributing in the environment for the fetal development as example; smoking. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of paternal general health and age as a risk on pregnancy outcome in name of preterm or post term, low birth weight, admission to neonatal care unit, neonatal jaundice and congenital anomaly. Materials & Methods: This was population based cross-sectional descriptive study conducted in Iraq/Babil in time period of 3rd of March 2022 to 3rd of March 2023, online questionnaire was published as a Google form, and Iraqi couple filled it voluntary, the data then was analyzed using SPSS version 22. Results: In the research of 333 parents, 3% had parents aged ≥40, 65.8% had parents aged <30, 31.2% had parents aged 30-39, 82.3 % (274) were government employees, 35.7% were smokers, and 58.6% did not smoke. A study found a significant correlation between paternal occupation and poor pregnancy outcomes, including preterm or post term birth, low birth weight, admission to NICU, neonatal jaundice, and congenital anomalies (p value 0.046). However, age did not significantly affect outcomes after controlling for maternal demographics, medical history, and lifestyle factors (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Paternal factors do not appear to be an independent risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes apart from occupation.