Can paid maternity leave help prevent neonatal death?

A recent analysis published in the journal Contemporary Economic Policy showed that six weeks of paid family leave in California saved the lives
of 339 babies from 2004 to 2008.

The analysis relied on birth and infant death data and used all states outside of California as a comparison group
.
The analysis showed that 6 weeks of paid visiting sick leave — designed to help working parents balance their career and family responsibilities while also improving infant health — resulted in fewer deaths from health causes and had a greater impact on
married mothers' babies and boys.
It reduced late neonatal mortality by 0.
135
.

Dr.
Chen Feng, an assistant professor at Liaoning University, said: "Assuming that the national 12-week paid family leave program implemented in 2020 has a similar impact, it will increase the number of babies living to 1 year old
.
"

https://onlinelibrary.
wiley.
com/doi/10.
1111/coep.
12589