Research conducted in 18 industrialised countries, including the UK and Ireland, between 1969 and 2000 found that a ten-week extension in paid leave reduces infant mortality by 2.6 per cent. Over a full year the reduction would be 6.8 per cent.
The exact reason for the relationship is unknown, but may be due to longer periods of breastfeeding and better health care among mothers who do not return to work earlier. The study also suggested that women with longer paid leave take more leave before the birth, reducing the occurence of low birthweight and therefore infant mortality.
However, unpaid leave was not found to have the same protective effect because it may force mothers to return to work earlier.
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