A multi-country analysis of fatherhood onset and father-child coresidency in Southern Africa

Afr J Reprod Health. 2023 Oct 31;27(10):81-92. doi: 10.29063/ajrh2023/v27i10.7.ABSTRACTFather's involvement in positive childhood development is evident. Previous studies have shown how paternal presence in the home provides a layer of protection for the wellbeing of their children. Our study aimed to establish the prevalence of father-child coresidency among young fathers in Southern Africa. The relationship between the age of fatherhood and father-child coresidency was also investigated. Our study is a cross-sectional investigation using pooled data from the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) men's recode (MR) files of six countries; Angola (2015), Lesotho (2014), Namibia (2013), South Africa (2016), Zambia (2018) and Zimbabwe (2015). Men between the ages of 20 and 29 who reported having fathered at least one child were included in the study, the pooled weighted sample was 5 013 fathers. Statistical tests for the study were conducted using STATA software version 17.0. Our study found the prevalence of fatherhood in adolescence ranged between 11.83 and 35.70 percent in South Africa; with Lesotho presenting the lowest and Angola the highest prevalence levels. Study findings show young fathers had reduced odds of living in the same household as their biological children. Fathers who were working, located in a rural area, married or cohabiting with a woman, and have more than one biological child are positively associated with father-child coresidency. Fathers not living with ...
Source: African Journal of Reproductive Health - Category: African Health Authors: Source Type: research