Impact of an extension of maternity leave on infant health

Fabián Duarte, Valentina Paredes (), Cristobal Bennett () and Isabel Poblete ()
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Valentina Paredes: Universidad de Chile
Cristobal Bennett: Universidad de Chile
Isabel Poblete: Superintendencia de Seguridad Social

Journal of Population Economics, 2024, vol. 37, issue 1, No 11, 30 pages

Abstract: Abstract We study the effect of a 12-week maternity leave extension in Chile on the health of infants between 6 and 12 months old. Using unique administrative sick leave data for working women enrolled in the private health insurance system who gave birth between 2011 and 2013, we estimate the effect of this extension on the number of paid sick days taken by the mother due to her child being ill. We find that extending maternity leave improved infant health and decreased the number of sick days by 6.43 (0.18 SD) days on average. Additionally, we show that mothers with extended maternity leave take their infant to the pediatrician less often than mothers without the extended leave. Our results are consistent with a decrease in daycare attendance, which decreases exposure to communicable diseases.

Keywords: Maternity leave; Infant health; Sick leave; Administrative data; Doctor visits; Daycare (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I18 J13 J18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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DOI: 10.1007/s00148-024-00996-y

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