Abstract
Efforts to reduce infant mortality in the United States have failed to incorporate paternal involvement. Research suggests
that paternal involvement, which has been recognized as contributing to child development and health for many decades, is
likely to affect infant mortality through the mother’s well-being, primarily her access to resources and support. In spite
of that, systemic barriers facing the father and the influence on his involvement in the pregnancy have received little attention.
The Commission on Paternal Involvement in Pregnancy Outcomes (CPIPO) has identified the most important social barriers to
paternal involvement during pregnancy and outlined a set of key policy priorities aimed at fostering paternal involvement.
This article summarizes the key recommendations, including equitable paternity leave, elimination of marriage as a tax and
public assistance penalty, integration of fatherhood initiatives in MCH programs, support of low-income fathers through employment
training, father inclusion in family planning services, and expansion of birth data collection to include father information.
that paternal involvement, which has been recognized as contributing to child development and health for many decades, is
likely to affect infant mortality through the mother’s well-being, primarily her access to resources and support. In spite
of that, systemic barriers facing the father and the influence on his involvement in the pregnancy have received little attention.
The Commission on Paternal Involvement in Pregnancy Outcomes (CPIPO) has identified the most important social barriers to
paternal involvement during pregnancy and outlined a set of key policy priorities aimed at fostering paternal involvement.
This article summarizes the key recommendations, including equitable paternity leave, elimination of marriage as a tax and
public assistance penalty, integration of fatherhood initiatives in MCH programs, support of low-income fathers through employment
training, father inclusion in family planning services, and expansion of birth data collection to include father information.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-6
- DOI 10.1007/s10995-011-0781-1
- Authors
- Amina P. Alio, Department of Community and Preventive Medicine, University of Rochester, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Box 644, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
- M. Jermane Bond, Health Policy Institute, Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, Washington, DC, USA
- Yolanda C. Padilla, School of Social Work, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
- Joel J. Heidelbaugh, Departments of Family Medicine and Urology, Ypsilanti Health Center, Ypsilanti, MI, USA
- Michael Lu, College of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- Willie J. Parker, Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington, D.C., Inc, Washington, DC, USA
- Journal Maternal and Child Health Journal
- Online ISSN 1573-6628
- Print ISSN 1092-7875