Open AccessFather's Health Status and Inequalities in Physical and Mental Health of U.S. Children: A Population-Based Study
Author(s) -
Romuladus E. Azuine,
Gopal K. Singh
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
health equity
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.826
H-Index - 9
ISSN - 2473-1242
DOI - 10.1089/heq.2019.0051
Subject(s) - mental health , inequality , physical health , psychology , population , gerontology , demography , environmental health , medicine , sociology , psychiatry , mathematics , mathematical analysis
Father-and-child-health risk relationship is poorly studied and understood. We examine the impact of father's physical and mental health status and sociodemographic characteristics on the physical and mental outcomes of U.S. children 0-17 years of age. Methods: The 2011-2012 National Survey of Children's Health ( N =75,879) was analyzed to estimate prevalence and odds of poor physical and mental health among children according to father's physical and mental health status and sociodemographic characteristics. Results: Overall, 3.2% of U.S. children had poor physical health; and 6.0% of U.S. children had emotional or behavioral problems. The adjusted odds of having poor overall health was 3.1 times higher among children of fathers with poor overall health. Children of fathers with poor mental health had 2.6 times higher adjusted odds of having poor mental health. Discussion: Results underscore the significant role of fathers in the physical and mental well-being of children. Engaging fathers in child health may provide a potential opportunity to reduce mental and emotional health problems among children.