The study’s authors theorize that paid and extended maternity leave may help to reduce infant mortality in several ways, including the following:

Paid maternity leave, with its guarantee of income and job security, may reduce a woman’s stress level, a known risk factor in preterm birth and low birth weight.
Some policies permit time off as the due date approaches and that may allow expectant mothers easier access to third-trimester care.
After her child is born, a mother on paid leave may have more time to seek medical attention and care for an ill child.
A woman who takes time off from work at that point may be more likely to continue breastfeeding and to ensure that her baby receives vaccinations, both of which are important factors in infant health.
One hundred and eighty-eight countries guarantee paid leave of some sort for new mothers. “While this study focuses on low- and middle-income countries, the impact in high-income countries is also well demonstrated. For the health of our children and the well-being of families, the U.S. needs to catch up with most of the world and ensure all new parents have paid parental leave,” said study author Dr. Jody Heymann, formerly of McGill and now dean of the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health and founding director of the WORLD Policy Analysis Center.

In Canada as well as in many European countries, a new mother is entitled to up to one year of paid time off. Only a few countries have no paid maternity leave mandate. They include Papua New Guinea, Suriname, and the United States.

In future work, Nandi said, “We plan to document the effects of paid maternity leave on women’s outcomes, including their labor force participation, health, and well-being, as well as the implications of paternal leave policies.”