Young dads health risk to babiesYoung Dad’s risk to babies?

Babies fathered by teenagers are more likely to be born prematurely, have low birthweight or even die, than those with fathers in their 40s, according to new research.

Why they face a greater risk of serious health problems is dispputed.

The findings might be linked to the quality of sperm produced by young fathers, said scientists on the project.

But others claim it could be linked to their tendency to be from a poor background , increasing the risk of drug-use and domestic violence by fathers.

‘The magnitude of the risks to society could be huge, given the number of births worldwide. It clearly warrants further invvestigation,’ said research author Prof Shi Wu Wen from the Ottawa Health Research Institute.

The findings showed babies with teenage fathers were 15 per cent more likely to arrive early and 13 per cent more likely to have low birth weight.

They also had a 22 per cent greater risk of dying within four weeks of birth and 41 per cent more risk of dying between four weeks and their first birthday.

The British Fertility Society insisted sperm quality could not be the main problem because studies have shown it declined as men grew older.

‘Older men are simply better able to provide for their pregnant partners,’ it said.