Evidence map›Paper›PMID 29098488›Full record

ArticleMaternal and child health journal2018

Paid Maternity Leave in the United States: Associations with Maternal and Infant Health.

Judy Jou, Katy B Kozhimannil, Jean M Abraham, Lynn A Blewett, Patricia M McGovern

Abstract read
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Maternal and child health journal, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 68 papers, 4 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
68citing papers in PubMed, 4 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

68 citing papers in PubMed, 4 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Pooled it
  4. Pooled it
  5. Article
  6. Article
  7. Article
  8. Promoting bonding and secure attachment in the NICU to improve parent-infant mental health: recommendations for clinical practice.Journal of perinatology : official journal of the California Perinatal Association · 2026
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  12. Pregnancy-related death rates by county, race, and ethnicity in the US, 2000-2019.Archives of public health = Archives belges de sante publique · 2025
    Article
  13. Article
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  15. Meeting the emotional and behavioral health needs of bereaved NICU parents.Journal of perinatology : official journal of the California Perinatal Association · 2025
    Review
  16. Article
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  19. Flange Size Matters: A Comparative Pilot Study of the Flange FITSJournal of human lactation : official journal of International Lactation Consultant Association · 2025
    Article
  20. Review

8 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Judy JouDivision of Health Policy and Management, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, 420 Delaware St. SE, MMC 729, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA. jouxx008@umn.edu.
Katy B KozhimannilDivision of Health Policy and Management, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, 420 Delaware St. SE, MMC 729, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.
Jean M AbrahamDivision of Health Policy and Management, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, 420 Delaware St. SE, MMC 729, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.
Lynn A BlewettDivision of Health Policy and Management, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, 420 Delaware St. SE, MMC 729, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA.
Patricia M McGovernDivision of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minneapolis, MN, USA.

Funding

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality 1R36 HS023950-01
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Objectives The United States is one of only three countries worldwide with no national policy guaranteeing paid leave to employed women who give birth. While maternity leave has been linked to improved maternal and child outcomes in international contexts, up-to-date research evidence in the U.S. context is needed to inform current policy debates on paid family leave. Methods Using data from Listening to Mothers III, a national survey of women ages 18-45 who gave birth in 2011-2012, we conducted multivariate logistic regression to predict the likelihood of outcomes related to infant health, maternal physical and mental health, and maternal health behaviors by the use and duration of paid maternity leave. Results Use of paid and unpaid leave varied significantly by race/ethnicity and household income. Women who took paid maternity leave experienced a 47% decrease in the odds of re-hospitalizing their infants (95% CI 0.3, 1.0) and a 51% decrease in the odds of being re-hospitalized themselves (95% CI 0.3, 0.9) at 21 months postpartum, compared to women taking unpaid or no leave. They also had 1.8 times the odds of doing well with exercise (95% CI 1.1, 3.0) and stress management (95% CI 1.1, 2.8), compared to women taking only unpaid leave. Conclusions for Practice Paid maternity leave significantly predicts lower odds of maternal and infant re-hospitalization and higher odds of doing well with exercise and stress management. Policies aimed at expanding access to paid maternity and family leave may contribute toward reducing socio-demographic disparities in paid leave use and its associated health benefits.

Indexed as

Infant HealthMaternal HealthSalaries and Fringe BenefitsAdolescentAdultCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHealth BehaviorHumansInfantInfant, NewbornMental HealthMothersParental LeavePostpartum PeriodPregnancyFamily and Medical Leave ActHealth behaviorInfant healthMaternal healthMaternity leave

Identifiers

PMID29098488

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.