Greater frequency of premature birth when both parents do not acknowledge filiation

The recent economic crisis that has been affecting Italy in the last few years has led to an increase in poverty and to worse social conditions, inevitably affecting infancy (1, 2). The health conditions of babies, notably worse among those belonging to needy families, can be influenced by their status already before birth. Babies born to women living in disadvantaged conditions, such as immigrant women, and who have therefore little access to national health services during pregnancy, are exposed to greater disease risk (3). Another risk condition for the newborn is the failure to acknowledge parenthood by both parents. In the Lazio region in the last eight years, as many as 436,255 babies were born; those whose filiation was not acknowledged or was acknowledged by the mother only were 9401 (2.2%). Compared to newborns whose filiation was acknowledged by both parents, these children presented a higher rate of premature birth (<37 weeks)-11.9 vs. 7.9%p < 0.001; very low birth weight (<1500 g)-2.1 vs. 0.9%p < 0.001 (Figure 1) and late first