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BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

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01-12-2020 | Premature Birth | Research article

Paternal violent criminality and preterm birth: a Swedish national cohort study

Authors: Can Liu, Niklas Långström, Cecilia Ekéus, Thomas Frisell, Sven Cnattingius, Anders Hjern

Published in: BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth | Issue 1/2020

Abstract

Background

Fathers may affect expectant mothers’ daily living situations, which in turn might influence pregnancy outcomes. We investigated the association between paternal violent criminality and risk of preterm birth (≤36 weeks).

Methods

We conducted a register-based study with all live singleton births in the Swedish Medical Birth Register from 1992 to 2012, linked with records of paternal violent crime convictions from the National Crime Register from 1973 to 2012.

Results

Paternal violent criminality was associated with increased risk of preterm birth and lower gestational age. The association was especially pronounced among infants of reoffenders: men convicted of three or more violent crimes (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.23 [95% CI 1.17, 1.29]). Maternal half sibling-comparisons, an analytic approach controlling for maternal factors stable across pregnancies, also suggested increased risk of preterm birth and lower gestational age when exposed to a violently reoffending father compared to a father without violent criminal convictions (aOR 1.30 [0.99, 1.72], adjusted mean difference − 1.07 [− 1.78, − 0.36]).

Conclusions

Persistent paternal violent criminality was associated with increased risk of preterm birth, even after controlling for maternal characteristics that did not change between pregnancies.

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Title: Paternal violent criminality and preterm birth: a Swedish national cohort study
Authors: Can Liu
Niklas Långström
Cecilia Ekéus
Thomas Frisell
Sven Cnattingius
Anders Hjern
Publication date: 01-12-2020
Publisher: BioMed Central
Keyword: Premature Birth
Published in: BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth / Issue 1/2020
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2393
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-020-02964-2

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Paternal violent criminality and preterm birth: a Swedish national cohort study

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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