New research from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa and international partners highlights the significant and often under-recognized role of fathers’ health in shaping pregnancy and child outcomes.
Recently published in “The Lancet,” the research challenges the traditional approach to pregnancy care, which focuses solely on mothers’ behaviors.
According to Jonathan Huang, lead author of the study and assistant professor at the Department of Public Health Sciences in the Thompson School of Social Work and Public Health, the research into the biology behind men’s health shows that men contribute substantially during pregnancy, whether through physical health, diet, or other behaviors.
“The more we look, the more we find important contributions from fathers, including many factors traditionally believed to be solely the responsibility of the pregnant person, such as weight status, substance use or being an older parent,” Huang said. “In some cases, paternal contributions are even larger than their maternal counterparts, and several are related intergenerationally to the fathers’ own upbringing.”
This transdisciplinary review uses evidence from biological, behavioral, and social sciences to create a framework for men’s role in preconception health. The findings show that a man’s early life experiences—including stress, physical and mental health, environment, and education—influence his health during reproductive years.
These factors can, in turn, affect his partner’s health and health behaviors, such as prenatal care, before and during pregnancy, as well as have direct biological effects on the developing infant.
The research addresses ethical concerns, noting that placing all responsibility for a child’s future health on the birthing parent reinforces gender biases. Furthermore, the researchers emphasize that racism and colonialism have disrupted family and community roles for many Black and Brown men, creating barriers to addressing their health needs.
This disruption underscores the need for culturally grounded approaches, which are particularly effective for Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander men.
“Policies and programs are needed to strengthen family and community bonds while centering the health and well-being of kāne [men] within their cultural roles,” said Keawe‘aimoku Kaholokula, co-author and chair of the Department of Native Hawaiian Health in the John A. Burns School of Medicine. “Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander men are less likely to engage in Western-based health interventions than their female counterparts, but are more responsive to culturally grounded approaches.”
Kaholokula stated that the traditional concept of Hale Mua—a cultural space for men—offers a blueprint for improving the health of Hawaiian kāne by creating safe spaces for mentorship, life instruction, emotional regulation, and the transmission of cultural values, which reinforces their kuleana (responsibility) to family and community.
The researchers emphasize that policymakers, public health agencies, clinicians, researchers, and men themselves all have a role in improving preconception health. Investing in the well-being of boys and young men is key to reducing health disparities and improving outcomes for future generations.
“Raising awareness about the importance of men’s health does not diminish the critical importance of women and pregnant persons’ well-being. Rather it serves as a collective call-in to ensure that men and partners are equipped to be supportive partners, allies, and caretakers before, during, and long after pregnancy,” Huang added.
The research team includes collaborators from the continental U.S., the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Singapore. A companion study highlights the work of the international Core Indicators for Preconception Health and Equity Alliance in improving how preconception health is measured and monitored.
