Duration of Prenatal Maternity Leave and Birth Weight in Ghana

Background- Ghana has made significant progress in achieving Sustainable Development Goal 3 by reducing infant morbidity and mortality. However, more efforts are needed, particularly in addressing preterm birth and low birth weight. Work-related stress is a risk factor for both. Implementing prenatal maternity leave, paid or unpaid, may improve birth outcomes by reducing stress and exposure to unhealthy work environments. Aim- This study examines the association between the duration of prenatal leave and birth weight in Ghana. Methods- We used individual data of Ghanaian women aged 15-49 years who participated in the Ghana Demographic and Health Survey 2014. This survey uniquely included questions regarding maternity leave. The study population included 375 women who provided information on prenatal leave, birth weight, and socio-demographic factors. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine the odds of a child being above the low birth weight threshold (> 2500 g), adjusting for confounding variables. Two regressions were conducted- one using the number of days of prenatal leave, and the other comparing long versus short leave (< 30 days). Findings- A positive association was found between prenatal leave duration and newborns weighing ≥2500 g. Adjusted odds ratios were 1.03 [1.01;1.05] for each additional day of leave and 1.96 [0.99;3.88] for long versus short leave. Longer leave may allow women to focus on health and antenatal care. Conclusion- Longer prenatal leave may have a protective effect on birth weight in Ghana, where short or no leave is common, emphasizing the need for policies supporting extended prenatal leave.