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328406
What's leave got to do with it? Paid and unpaid maternity leave in the United States and associations with maternal/infant health


Monday, November 2, 2015 : 12:30 p.m. - 12:50 p.m.

Judy Jou, MA, School of Public Health, Division of Health Policy and Management, University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN
Katy Kozhimannil, Ph.D., M.P.A., Division of Health Policy and Management, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis, MN
Jean Abraham, Ph.D., University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis, MN
Lynn A. Blewett, PhD, Division of Health Policy and Management, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Patricia M. McGovern, PhD, MPH, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Audio (mp3) recording Recorded Presentation (mp4)
Background. The U.S. is one of only two countries in the world with no formal policy guaranteeing paid maternity leave. Paid leave may be associated with better maternal and infant health; however, research using newer data and differentiating between paid and unpaid leave is needed to inform current policy debates.

Objective. To examine the associations between the availability and use of paid and unpaid maternity leave and maternal/infant health.

Methods. We used data from Listening to Mothers III, a nationally-representative survey of women ages 18-45 who gave birth in 2011-12. The study sample consisted of 700 women who were employed during pregnancy.

Results. Overall, 15% of respondents had no maternity leave available, and 36% had no access to paid leave. Logistic regression analyses showed that women who use paid and unpaid leave were 80% and 40-50% less likely, respectively, to be re-admitted or to have their infant re-admitted for an overnight hospitalization up to 21 months postpartum. Women with paid leave available were 1.7-2.3 times more likely to display positive health behaviors, including exercise, healthy diet, and sufficient sleep, at 7-21 months postpartum. Those using paid leave were 80% less likely to have persistent feelings of depression and to have seen a mental health professional since childbirth.

Conclusions. Over 55 million reproductive-age women in the U.S. labor force may have no access to paid maternity leave. Policies that expand access to paid and unpaid leave can contribute to better health outcomes and reduce healthcare costs for women, children, and families.

Learning Areas:

Advocacy for health and health education
Public health or related public policy

Learning Objectives:
Evaluate the extent to which paid and unpaid maternity leave availability and use in the United States are associated with maternal/infant health indicators up to 21 months postpartum. Identify any systematic differences in access to paid and unpaid maternity leave by socio-demographic and birth-related characteristics.

Keyword(s): Maternal and Child Health, Public Policy

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a doctoral candidate in Health Services Research, Policy, and Administration at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health with an interest and previous publications in the areas of health policy and maternal/child health. The work done in this paper comprises part of my doctoral dissertation on the impact of workplace policies for women around the time of pregnancy and childbirth.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 3283.0: Maternal Interventions to Promote Health Behavior and Healthy Pregnancy (organized jointly with the Maternal and Child Health section and Women's Caucus)