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Maternal leave policies and vaccination coverage: a global analysis
Mark Daku1, Amy Raub, Jody Heymann
1Department of Political Science, McGill University, Canada. mark.daku@mail.mcgill.ca
Social Science & Medicine (1982)
|December 27, 2011
Summary
Paid maternal leave is linked to increased childhood vaccination rates. Longer paid leave policies may help parents access essential immunizations for their children, reducing child mortality.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Health Policy
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Childhood vaccination is crucial for reducing mortality but faces barriers to universal uptake.
- Work conflicts are identified as a significant obstacle for parents seeking to vaccinate their children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the hypothesis that enhanced parental opportunity to attend vaccination appointments improves childhood vaccination rates.
- To examine the correlation between paid maternal leave duration and vaccine uptake across UN member countries.
Main Methods:
- Utilized Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression analysis.
- Analyzed policy data from 185 United Nations member countries.
- Controlled for economic and social factors including GDP per capita and healthcare expenditures.
Main Results:
- A positive association was found between the number of paid maternal leave weeks and higher childhood vaccination rates.
- This association persisted even after accounting for GDP per capita, healthcare spending, and other social variables.
Conclusions:
- Adequately paid maternal leave appears to facilitate higher childhood vaccination coverage.
- Further research, including longitudinal and intervention studies, is recommended to confirm causality and explore other leave policies.
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