University experts examined about 2.6 million births from 1995 to 2000 in the U.S., studying the collected data related to the research. The conclusions were gathered after comparing births with teenage fathers, to those with fathers aged 40 and over, who posed no threat to the newborns.
Of the babies born to teenage fathers, 15 percent were more likely for premature birth, and 13 percent were more likely to have low birth weight. The risk of death was higher for 22 percent of the babies, rising to 41 percent for those between four weeks and one year old.
"The magnitude of the risk to society could be huge, given the number of births worldwide," the AFP quoted study co-author Shi Wu Wen.
Wen added that the actual cause for the higher risk with teenage fathers was not yet determined. However, clues were pointing to the influence of sociological factors.
"Young fathers are more likely to come from economically disadvantaged families and to have lower educational attainment," he explained. "People with less affluent backgrounds are less likely to utilize prenatal care services."
Dr. Susan Bewley of the King's College London agreed with the hypothesis regarding the sociological influences, reported the BBC News.
"The question is how good a father can you be when you are a very young person?" she said. "It's far harder to be a good provider when you are that age."
She also noted the possibility of a younger father not being capable of giving the emotional support needed by the mother.
The study was published in an issue of Oxford University Press journal, Human Reproduction.
