Fathers of children born to adolescent mothers. Predictors of contact with their children at 2 years. 1995

J E Cox, and W G Bithoney
Children's Hospital, Boston, Mass, USA.

OBJECTIVE To examine factors associated with long-term involvement of the fathers of children born to adolescent mothers receiving health care in a teen-tot clinic. METHODS Ninety-three first-time adolescent mothers younger than 18 years receiving care in a hospital-based teen-tot clinic participated in standardized structured interviews at 2 weeks and 24 months post partum. Data were obtained on demographic factors, the father's prenatal and delivery involvement, frequency of the father's contact with his child, and his participation in child care and financial support of the child. RESULTS Factors associated with at least monthly contact between father and child during the first 24 months of the child's life were attending at least one prenatal visit, seeing the newborn in the hospital, and a reported supportive relationship between the young mother's family and the father at the 2-week interview. Age of the father and his education, work, or living arrangement did not predict involvement at 24 months. CONCLUSIONS Our study suggests an association between a father's active participation in both the prenatal and neonatal periods and later contacts between children of adolescent mothers and their fathers. Since other studies indicate that paternal involvement results in more effective maternal parenting and satisfaction, interventions that encourage fathers' participation in both prenatal and intrapartum care should be developed and rigorously evaluated.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D010287 Parent-Child Relations The interactions between parent and child. Parent-Offspring Interaction,Parent Child Relationship,Parent-Child Relationship,Interaction, Parent-Offspring,Parent Child Relations,Parent Child Relationships,Parent Offspring Interaction,Parent-Child Relation,Parent-Child Relationships,Parent-Offspring Interactions,Relation, Parent-Child,Relationship, Parent Child,Relationship, Parent-Child
D011247 Pregnancy The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH. Gestation,Pregnancies
D011253 Pregnancy in Adolescence Pregnancy in human adolescent females under the age of 19. Adolescent Pregnancy,Pregnancy, Adolescent,Pregnancy, Teenage,Preteen Pregnancy,Teenage Pregnancy,Teen Pregnancy,Adolescence, Pregnancy in,Adolescent Pregnancies,Pregnancies, Adolescent,Pregnancies, Preteen,Pregnancies, Teen,Pregnancies, Teenage,Pregnancy, Preteen,Pregnancy, Teen,Preteen Pregnancies,Teen Pregnancies,Teenage Pregnancies
D005220 Fathers Male parents, human or animal. Father
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000293 Adolescent A person 13 to 18 years of age. Adolescence,Youth,Adolescents,Adolescents, Female,Adolescents, Male,Teenagers,Teens,Adolescent, Female,Adolescent, Male,Female Adolescent,Female Adolescents,Male Adolescent,Male Adolescents,Teen,Teenager,Youths
D013997 Time Factors Elements of limited time intervals, contributing to particular results or situations. Time Series,Factor, Time,Time Factor
D016487 Parenting Performing the role of a parent by care-giving, nurturance, and protection of the child by a natural or substitute parent. The parent supports the child by exercising authority and through consistent, empathic, appropriate behavior in response to the child's needs. PARENTING differs from CHILD REARING in that in child rearing the emphasis is on the act of training or bringing up the children and the interaction between the parent and child, while parenting emphasizes the responsibility and qualities of exemplary behavior of the parent.

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