Parent Concordance and Fathers' Persistence Through Pregnancy in a Prenatal Program Sample [32R]

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Single parent households are common and their impact is greatest in underserved communities where racial and ethnic minorities primarily reside. Paternal parental involvement has been shown to improve a child's behavioral, social and mental health, while their absence fuels school dropout, incarceration, violence and drug involvement. This study describes a father's intention for involvement in the pregnancy and the baby's life across different couple types. METHODS: Data was collected from interviews with pregnant women enrolling in MAMAs, a prenatal care program at a Los Angeles County Health facility, from December 2013 to August 2016. During the intake visit, demographic information was collected, including maternal and paternal race/ethnicity, relationship status, as well as the expressed or assumed paternal intentions for involvement during pregnancy and in the baby's life. A Chi-Square test examined father's intentions to persist through the pregnancy and the child's life among couples of the same (concordant) and different (discordant) racial and ethnic backgrounds. RESULTS: Of the 3259 women interviewed, 87.2% (n=2841) stated the father of the baby intended to be involved during and after the pregnancy. In pregnancies with discordant parents (16.4%), the fathers were less likely to want to be involved than in pregnancies with concordant parents (Chi-Square =10.15, P=0.001). CONCLUSION: Intentions for paternal involvement during and after pregnancy differ significantly based on parental race and ethnic concordance. Children with discordant parents are at higher risk for absent fathers. Pregnant women with discordant partners may benefit from increased social support during prenatal care and throughout the child's life.