PATERNAL RACE/ETHNICITY AND VERY LOW BIRTH WEIGHT AMONG WOMEN IN TARRANT COUNTY, TX 2006-2010

Low birth weight, including very low birth weight (<1,500 grams), is not evenly distributed across racial/ethnic groups. Although the reason for this is not completely understood, recent research has emphasized the need for a more comprehensive understanding of paternal influences on racial/ethnic birth disparities. This study looked at the association between paternal race/ethnicity and very low birth weight (VLBW) stratified by maternal race/ethnicity. Results show that paternal race/ethnicity is an important predictor of VLBW among white and Hispanic mothers. Future research should consider paternal race/ethnicity and further explore the association between paternal characteristics and VLBW. Purpose (a): The purpose was to examine the association between paternal race/ethnicity and VLBW stratified by maternal race/ethnicity. Methods (b): Birth data for Tarrant County, Texas 2006-2010 were analyzed. VLBW was dichotomized as yes (<1,500g) and no (≥1,500g). Paternal race/ethnicity was categorized as white, African American (AA), Hispanic, other, and missing. Missing observations (14.7%) were included and served as a proxy for fathers absent during pregnancy. Potential confounders included maternal age, education, and marital status, plurality, previous preterm birth, sexually transmitted disease during pregnancy, smoking during pregnancy, and Kotelchuck Index of prenatal care. Logistic regressions were stratified by maternal race/ethnicity. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated. Results (c): Of 145,054 births, 60,156 (41.5%) were white, 22,306 (15.4%) AA, 54,553 (37.6%) Hispanic, and 8,039 (5.5%) other mothers. There were 2,154 (1.5%) VLBWs total, with 3.1% for AA mothers and 1.2% for all other race/ethnicities. Among white mothers, AA paternal race was associated with increased odds of VLBW (OR=1.52; 95% CI:1.08-2.14). Among Hispanic mothers, AA paternal race (OR=1.66; 95% CI:1.01-2.74) and missing paternal race/ethnicity (OR=1.65; 95% CI:1.15-2.36) were associated with increased odds of VLBW. Conclusions (d): Paternal race/ethnicity is an important predictor of VLBW among white and Hispanic mothers. Future research should consider paternal race/ethnicity and further explore the association between paternal characteristics and VLBW.