Association between paternal age and preterm and low birth weight in Taiwan
1
Health Promotion Administration, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taipei City, Taiwan, Province of China
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
According to estimates from the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 15 million newborns are born preterm and more than 20 million newborns are born low birth weight each year. This study aimed to investigate the association between paternal age and preterm and low birth weight among newborns.
METHODS:
Data were obtained from the 2023 Birth Reporting System, which was a national system for reporting the births of newborns in Taiwan. The study population consisted of 122819 live singleton births. Paternal age was categorized into six groups: <25, 25–29, 30–34, 35–39, 40–44, and ≥45 years. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine the association between paternal age and preterm and low birth weight among newborns.
RESULTS:
The largest proportion of fathers were aged 30–34 years (33.3%), while the smallest proportions were observed in those aged <25 years (4.3%) and ≥45 years (4.3%). Among newborns with preterm and low birth weight, the highest proportions were observed among fathers aged ≥45 years. After adjusting for demographic, delivery, and maternal factors, compared with fathers aged 30–34 years, those aged ≥45 years had a significantly higher risk of preterm birth (Adjusted OR = 1.24, 95% CI = 1.10-1.41), and younger fathers aged 25–29 years had a significantly higher risk of low birth weight newborns (Adjusted OR = 1.12, 95% CI = 1.03–1.21).
CONCLUSIONS:
The risk of preterm was higher among newborns of older fathers (>45 years), while the risk of low birth weight was higher among newborns of younger fathers (25–29 years). Therefore, health policies and educational campaigns should also emphasize the importance of appropriate paternal age at childbirth to reduce the occurrence of adverse birth outcomes.
According to estimates from the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 15 million newborns are born preterm and more than 20 million newborns are born low birth weight each year. This study aimed to investigate the association between paternal age and preterm and low birth weight among newborns.
METHODS:
Data were obtained from the 2023 Birth Reporting System, which was a national system for reporting the births of newborns in Taiwan. The study population consisted of 122819 live singleton births. Paternal age was categorized into six groups: <25, 25–29, 30–34, 35–39, 40–44, and ≥45 years. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine the association between paternal age and preterm and low birth weight among newborns.
RESULTS:
The largest proportion of fathers were aged 30–34 years (33.3%), while the smallest proportions were observed in those aged <25 years (4.3%) and ≥45 years (4.3%). Among newborns with preterm and low birth weight, the highest proportions were observed among fathers aged ≥45 years. After adjusting for demographic, delivery, and maternal factors, compared with fathers aged 30–34 years, those aged ≥45 years had a significantly higher risk of preterm birth (Adjusted OR = 1.24, 95% CI = 1.10-1.41), and younger fathers aged 25–29 years had a significantly higher risk of low birth weight newborns (Adjusted OR = 1.12, 95% CI = 1.03–1.21).
CONCLUSIONS:
The risk of preterm was higher among newborns of older fathers (>45 years), while the risk of low birth weight was higher among newborns of younger fathers (25–29 years). Therefore, health policies and educational campaigns should also emphasize the importance of appropriate paternal age at childbirth to reduce the occurrence of adverse birth outcomes.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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