579 - Fathers, Breastfeeding and Safe Infant Sleep Practices: Findings from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) for Dads, Georgia, 2018-2019

Poster Number: 579
Publication Number: 579.241

John James Parker, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Lake Bluff, IL, United States; Clarissa D. Simon, Lurie Children's Hospital, Chicago, IL, United States; Anne Bendelow, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States; J Michael Bryan, Georgia Department of Public Health, Atlanta, GA, United States; Craig Garfield, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Evanston, IL, United States

Background: Healthy People 2030 aims to increase the proportion of infants who are a) breastfed at one year and b) placed on their back to sleep. Growing evidence links father involvement with improved child and maternal outcomes; however, limited studies collect data directly from fathers about infant outcomes and paternal factors in the perinatal period.

Objective: To evaluate associations between paternal characteristics and key infant outcomes including breastfeeding and safe sleep among a state-representative sample of fathers.

Design/Methods: PRAMS for Dads was a feasibility randomized controlled study conducted in Georgia from 2018-2019 to evaluate the effectiveness of a perinatal surveillance survey of fathers 3-6 months postnatal. Survey data included sociodemographic and validated survey measures. Safe sleep measures included defining an approved sleep surface as the infant usually sleeps in a a) crib, bassinet or pack in play, but not in a b) twin or larger bed, c) couch, sofa, or armchair, or d) infant car seat or swing. Data were weighted for sampling design, noncoverage and nonresponse to be representative of Georgia resident fathers listed as married or unmarried with a paternity acknowledgment form. Chi-squared testing and weighted percentages were used to assess paternal characteristics, breastfeeding practices, and safe infant sleep behaviors.

Results: Of 266 respondents, 211 (84%) fathers reported their child had ever breastfed and 155 (60%) reported breastfeeding at 8 weeks. The prevalence of breastfeeding initiation and duration were higher among fathers with an income 201+% the federal poverty level (FPL), bachelor’s degree or higher, married, being supportive of breastfeeding, non-smokers and those who report very good or excellent health, (p < 0.05, Table 1) compared with fathers who did not have these characteristics. Most fathers reported placing their child on their back to sleep (n=189; 81%); however only 78 (32%) reported doing so on an approved sleep surface. Approved sleep surface use was significantly (p < 0.05) higher among fathers with more than one child (n=52; 39%), compared to those with only one child (n=25; 23%).Conclusion(s): Among this state-based representative sample of fathers, infant breastfeeding rates and safe sleep practices are suboptimal. Infant outcomes vary by paternal characteristics suggesting opportunities for outreach to include fathers in promotion of breastfeeding and infant safe sleep.
JJ Parker CVCV JJ Parker, 1.4.22 .pdf