Health Equity & Parental Leave: Addressing Gaps in Maternal Health Policy

Author

Destiny L. Smith, Duquesne UniversityFollow

Project Completion Date

Spring 3-16-2025

Document Type

Capstone

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts in Public Health

Community Partner

Pittsburgh Business Group on Health

Abstract

Objective: This capstone project at Duquesne University will address health equity by focusing on employer-provided maternal and parental leave policies in the United States among underserved groups. It aims to address the gaps in these policies and analyze how disparities in leave policies across different industries can impact maternal and infant health outcomes.

Priority Population Served: This study will primarily target underserved employees who had to take some type of leave policy while working for an intended employer.

Methods: This project will engage in data analysis of the 2024 BIRTH survey results that the Pittsburgh Business Group on Health has distributed to employers. I will be comparing the results from the survey to determine the inequities in maternity and paternity leave policies. Once the data is analyzed, I will then use the secondary research and the results of the survey to develop a policy brief infographic.

Expected Results: This project anticipates that employers will begin to implement better maternal & paternity leave policies within their workforce, which will be attainable to all employees regardless of their socioeconomic status. This study aims to decrease the percentage of companies that do not support and offer maternity and paternity leave through human resource policies.

Conclusions: The expected findings of this study show that there needs to be more employer-provided leave policies implemented that support positive health outcomes, particularly among underserved populations. These disparities regarding access to maternal and paternity leave reveal deep inequities that contribute to poor maternal outcomes and social and economic inequalities.

Public Health Implications: Demonstrating the effectiveness of employer-provided maternity and paternity leave policies has a significant impact on public health. This project shows how important it is for employers to implement equitable policies to ensure that future health outcomes do not occur.

Keywords: Healthy Equity, Maternal Leave policies, underserved, employer-provided, paternity leave

Recommended Citation

Smith, Destiny L., "Health Equity & Parental Leave: Addressing Gaps in Maternal Health Policy" (2025). Public Health Capstone Projects. 2.
https://dsc.duq.edu/ph-capstones/2