Risk Behaviors Among Fathers with and without a Partner, 2006-2008

Background: The number of single fathers has been increasing over recent years, and the man’s role in the family has been changing.  A father’s health behaviors can serve as a role model for his children.

Objectives: To compare sexual health and risk behaviors of fathers with a partner and fathers without a partner.

Methods:  We analyzed data from the 2006-2008 National Survey of Family Growth, a nationally representative survey that included men aged 15-44 years. We defined a “father” as any male who reported children ≤ 18 years, and a “partner” as a reported female spouse or cohabitation partner.  For fathers with a partner vs. fathers without a partner, we compared the proportions with > 1 female sexual partners; who used a condom or other contraception; had an STD test or diagnosis in the past year; was ever incarcerated; and who used marijuana. We determined if differences were significant using the Chi-squared test.

Results:  Compared to fathers with a partner, those without a partner were more likely to have > 1 sexual partner (8% vs. 49%, p<0.01); less likely to use a condom for only pregnancy prevention (73% vs. 22%, p<0.01), more likely to use a condom for both pregnancy prevention and disease prevention (17% vs. 62%, p<0.01), more likely to  use marijuana (14% vs. 33%, p<0.01), and more likely to use STD services (11% vs. 24%, p<0.01). A similar proportion of men in each group reported having an STD.

Conclusions: Fathers with a partner and fathers without a partner had different patterns of risk behavior.

Implications for Programs, Policy, and Research:  Interventions are needed to promote sexual health among men, and to assure the provision of quality sexual healthcare services for men.  Further studies are needed to understand factors that influence condom and contraception use.