The implementation of this social measure in Norway in 1977 has produced positive effects on the health of women who are now in their fifties.
- 50-year-old women in Norway who took maternity leave are healthier than those who did not
- The benefits of this leave are observed on BMI, blood pressure, cholesterol levels and diabetes
The secret to good health for women between 40 and 50? Maternity leave! A study by economists at the University of Georgia on Norwegian mothers demonstrates that the introduction of paid leave from 1977 enabled them to reap the benefits a few decades later. All women who gave birth after this date were in the best health in all areas when they reached their fifties.
A program to assess well-being
This study is based on the examination of health data of thousands of women around the age of 50 collected by the Norwegian Institute of Public Health which uses them more widely in a program intended to assess well-being in the country. The authors looked at biometric data such as BMI (Body Mass Index), blood pressure, cholesterol levels, diabetes rates combined with self-reported pain rates, mental health, and smoking.
As a result, women who had access to paid maternity leave had a BMI 2.5 to 3.7% lower than those who did not, they were 10% less likely to have high blood pressure. high and were 16 to 18M less affected by smoking. Better, they were 14 to 20% more likely to practice physical activity regularly. And the biggest gains have been seen among low-income women.
Stress reduction
“We think that a reduction in stress, more time to recover from childbirth and perhaps the possibility of breastfeeding their child played a role”, analyzes Aline Bütikofer, author of this study, who points out that the extensions paid holidays in Norway in 1987 and 1992 helped improve the health of 40-year-old women.
Other public health studies have already revealed the short-term benefits of maternity leave, for both women and children. But the work of Aline Bütikofer has made it possible to specify the long-term benefits for women. The researcher now hopes to analyze the effects of all the social measures – sick leave, disability insurance, health benefits – from which women who had children around 1977 benefited on their health and quality of life when they left. retired.
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