Paternal influences on pregnancy complications and birth outcomes

Thesis/Dissertation · Wed Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1992

OSTI ID:5709240

Cleghorn de Rohrmoser, D C

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship of selected characteristics of the paternal work environment and occupational history to the incidence of complications in pregnancy, complications in labor and anomalies in birth outcomes. The literature suggested that male exposure to teratogenic hazards in the form of radiation and chemical compounds, primarily in the form of solvents, has been implicated in reproductive disorders and malformed offspring in animals. Similarly, some recent research suggests that the exposure of male workers to such hazards on their job may have consequences for their spouses and children. Based on these experimental research studies and analyses of persons working in high risk occupations, a broader study of the potential contribution of paternal work environment variables to the success of pregnancy and birth outcomes seemed warranted. Based upon the literature review, a model was proposed for predicting complications in pregnancy, complications in labor and birth outcome (normal birth, low birth weight, congenital malformations and fetal death). From the 1980 National Natality Survey and the 1980 National Fetal Mortality Survey, four sub-samples of married couples, with both husband and wife employed, were selected on the basis of one of the four birth outcomes. The model called for controlling a range of maternal intrinsic and extrinsic health and behavioral variables known to be related to birth outcomes. Multiple logistic regression procedures were used to analyze the effects of father's exposure to radiation and solvents on the job, to complications in pregnancy and labor, and to birth outcome, while controlling for maternal variables. The results indicated that none of the paternal variables were predictors of complications in labor. Further, there was no clear pattern of results, though father's degree of exposure to solvents, and exposures to radiation did reach significance in some analyses.

• Research Organization: Delaware Univ., Newark, DE (United States)
• OSTI ID: 5709240
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

551000* -- Physiological Systems
560151 -- Radiation Effects on Animals-- Man
560300 -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL RADIATION EFFECTS
CONGENITAL MALFORMATIONS
DEATH
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
MALES
MALFORMATIONS
MAMMALS
MAN
MATERIALS
MEN
MORTALITY
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES
PREGNANCY
PRIMATES
RADIATION EFFECTS
RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
REPRODUCTIVE DISORDERS
SOLVENTS
VERTEBRATES