Maternity Leave Access and Health: A Systematic Narrative Review and Conceptual Framework Development
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Maternity Leave Access and Health: A Systematic Narrative Review and Conceptual Framework Development Ellie Andres1
•
Sarah Baird2 • Jeffrey Bart Bingenheimer3 • Anne Rossier Markus4
Ó Springer Science+Business Media New York 2015
Abstract Background Maternity leave is integral to postpartum maternal and child health, providing necessary time to heal and bond following birth. However, the relationship between maternity leave and health outcomes has not been formally and comprehensively assessed to guide public health research and policy in this area. This review aims to address this gap by investigating both the correlates of maternity leave utilization in the US and the related health benefits for mother and child. Methods We searched the peer-reviewed scholarly literature using six databases for the years 1990 to early 2015 and identified 37 studies to be included in the review. We extracted key data for each of the included studies and assessed study quality using the ‘‘Weight of the Evidence’’ approach. Results The literature generally confirms a positive, though limited correlation between maternity leave coverage and utilization. Likewise, longer maternity leaves are associated with improved breastfeeding intentions and rates of initiation, duration and predominance as well as improved maternal mental health and early childhood outcomes. However, the literature points to important disparities in access to maternity leave that carry over into health outcomes, such as breastfeeding. Synthesis We present a conceptual framework synthesizing
what is known to date related to maternity leave access and health outcomes.
& Ellie Andres [email protected]
Introduction
1
George Washington University, 3/F, 5G Bowen Road, Mid-Levels, Hong Kong
2
George Washington University, 950 New Hampshire Ave, NW, 4th Floor, Washington, DC 20052, USA
3
George Washington University, 950 New Hampshire Avenue, NW, 3rd Floor, Washington, DC 20052, USA
4
George Washington University, 950 New Hampshire Ave, NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20052, USA
Keywords Maternity leave Breastfeeding Child health Maternal mental health
Significance What is already known on this subject? Maternity leave is known to affect maternal and child health; however, the relationship has not been formally and comprehensively assessed to guide public health research and policy in this area. What this study adds? This study confirms a positive, though limited relationship between maternity leave coverage and utilization, and a correlation between longer maternity leaves and improved breastfeeding intentions, rates of initiation, duration and predominance as well as improved maternal mental health and early childhood outcomes. It also presents a conceptual framework synthesizing what is known to date and guiding future research.
The United States lags behind other industrialized countries in both the provision and utilization of maternity leave coverage [34]. While a national policy governs leave protections in most other countries, maternity leave
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