TY - JOUR

T1 - Measuring paternal discrepancy and its public health consequences

AU - Bellis, Mark A

AU - Hughes, Karen

AU - Hughes, Sara

AU - Ashton, John R.

PY - 2005/9

Y1 - 2005/9

N2 - Paternal discrepancy (PD) occurs when a child is identified as being biologically fathered by someone other than the man who believes he is the father. This paper examines published evidence on levels of PD and its public health consequences. Rates vary between studies from 0.8% to 30% (median 3.7%, n = 17). Using information from genetic and behavioural studies, the article identifies those who conceive younger, live in deprivation, are in long term relationships (rather than marriages), or in certain cultural groups are at higher risk. Public health consequences of PD being exposed include family break up and violence. However, leaving PD undiagnosed means cases having incorrect information on their genetics and fathers continuing to suspect that children may not be theirs. Increasing paternity testing and use of DNA techniques in clinical and judicial procedures means more cases of PD will be identified. Given developing roles for individual's genetics in decisions made by health services, private services (for example, insurance), and even in personal lifestyle decisions, the dearth of intelligence on how and when PD should be exposed urgently needs addressing.

AB - Paternal discrepancy (PD) occurs when a child is identified as being biologically fathered by someone other than the man who believes he is the father. This paper examines published evidence on levels of PD and its public health consequences. Rates vary between studies from 0.8% to 30% (median 3.7%, n = 17). Using information from genetic and behavioural studies, the article identifies those who conceive younger, live in deprivation, are in long term relationships (rather than marriages), or in certain cultural groups are at higher risk. Public health consequences of PD being exposed include family break up and violence. However, leaving PD undiagnosed means cases having incorrect information on their genetics and fathers continuing to suspect that children may not be theirs. Increasing paternity testing and use of DNA techniques in clinical and judicial procedures means more cases of PD will be identified. Given developing roles for individual's genetics in decisions made by health services, private services (for example, insurance), and even in personal lifestyle decisions, the dearth of intelligence on how and when PD should be exposed urgently needs addressing.

KW - Child

KW - DNA Fingerprinting

KW - Extramarital Relations

KW - Family

KW - Female

KW - Genetic Techniques

KW - Health Services Accessibility

KW - Humans

KW - Incidental Findings

KW - Male

KW - Paternity

KW - Prevalence

KW - Public Health

KW - Risk Factors

KW - Socioeconomic Factors

KW - Tissue and Organ Procurement

KW - Journal Article

KW - Review

U2 - 10.1136/jech.2005.036517

DO - 10.1136/jech.2005.036517

M3 - Review article

C2 - 16100312

VL - 59

SP - 749

EP - 754

JO - Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health

JF - Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health

SN - 0143-005X

IS - 9

ER -