Analysis of Paid Family Leave Policies on Breastfeeding Outcomes

This report examines the impact of paid family leave policies on breastfeeding practices, drawing on research from the American Journal of Public Health. The study, conducted by Hamad, Modrek, and White (2019), utilizes a quasi-experimental design to compare breastfeeding outcomes before and after the implementation of paid family leave in California and New Jersey, comparing results with states without such policies. The research analyzes a large sample of children born between 2001 and 2013, assessing various breastfeeding outcomes like exclusive breastfeeding at 3 and 6 months, and duration of breastfeeding. The findings indicate that paid family leave policies modestly improve exclusive breastfeeding rates at 6 months, with more pronounced benefits observed among married, White, higher-income, and older mothers. The report highlights the importance of paid family leave in supporting maternal health and reducing health disparities, while also acknowledging the need for policies that consider the needs of lower-income families. The report stresses that the duration of breastfeeding influences the risk of infection and other outcomes in its childhood.

Running head: EVIDENCE-BASED LITERATURE 1
Evidence- Base Literature
Student’s Name
Institutional Affiliation

EVIDENCE-BASED LITERATURE 2
Evidence- Base Literature
The primary aim of the study to examine if paid family leave policies that were
implemented in New Jersey and California had an impact in improving breastfeeding practices
generally and among the main subgroups (Hamad, Modrek, & White, 2019). After a close read
of the research, it was imperative that;
 Most of the American citizens believe that Paid Family Leave Policy improve parental
benefit after childbirth.
 The USA is the only nation in the high-income category that does not have a paid family
leave nation policy.
 Return to work shortly after childbirth due to unpaid leave reduces breastfeeding,
immunization as well as worsening of maternal health.
 Paid family leave policies increase chances of exclusive breastfeeding with consistent
improvement at six months across whites, high income, married, and older mothers
(Hamad, Modrek, & White, 2019).
 The duration of breastfeeding influences the risk of infection of the infant and other
outcomes in its childhood.
 The policy will increase maternal self-efficacy and increases the time to gain social
support as well as skills of maintaining breastfeeding after returning to work (Hamad,
Modrek, & White, 2019).
 Implementing partially paid leave policies is detrimental to those families who rely on
low income and could not afford to get a pay cut.
 The design of Paid family leave policies should target vulnerable mothers to exacerbate
health disparities.

EVIDENCE-BASED LITERATURE 3
 Married women had a higher chance of increases exclusive breastfeeding after 6 months
as compared to unmarried women.
 Paid family leave policy did not have an effect in half of the sampled population, which
means some mothers prefer not to feed their children exclusively.

EVIDENCE-BASED LITERATURE 4
References
Hamad, R., Modrek, S., & White, J. S. (2019). Paid family leave effects on breastfeeding: a
quasi-experimental study of US policies. American journal of public health, 109(1), 164-
166.