Impact of paternity leave on maternal postpartum recovery and mental health: policy frameworks in India and Kerala
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20263241Keywords:
Paternity leave, Postnatal care, Maternal recovery, Maternal health, Parental leave policy, India, KeralaAbstract
The recognition of paternity leaves as a key element in supporting maternal recovery and improving postnatal care quality is increasing. Although there is increasing global evidence highlighting its advantages, the implementation and effects of paternity leave policies differ widely, with India exemplifying this variation. This review aimed to gather and analyse current evidence on how paternity leave influences maternal physical and mental health during the postpartum period, with a particular focus on the policy frameworks and practices in India and Kerala. An extensive search was carried out across several databases, such as PubMed, Scopus, web of science, and google scholar, to locate pertinent studies published between 2004 and 2025. The search utilized keywords associated with “paternity leave,” “postnatal care,” “maternal recovery” and “parental leave policies.” Official documents, policy papers, and government notifications from India and international organizations were examined to understand the legislative and policy contexts. Paternity leave is increasingly viewed as a public health measure aiding maternal recovery. Fathers’ involvement during this time helps alleviate physical strain, musculoskeletal stress, and fatigue. Additionally, it acts as a safeguard against postpartum depression and stress in mothers. Yet, policy implementation varies widely. In India, Central Government employees are entitled to 15 days of paid leave, while Kerala State Government employees receive 10 days. In contrast, the private sector lacks a uniform statutory provision, resulting in considerable disparities in family support. Ensuring statutory, paid, and job-protected paternity leave of adequate length is crucial for enhancing health outcomes for both mothers and infants.
References
Finlayson K, Sacks E, Brizuela V, Crossland N, Cordey S, Ziegler D, et al. Factors that influence the uptake of postnatal care from the perspective of fathers, partners and other family members: a qualitative evidence synthesis. BMJ Glob Health. 2023;8(2):e011086.
Xiao X, Ngai FW, Zhu SN, Loke AY. The experiences of early postpartum Shenzhen mothers and their need for home visit services: a qualitative exploratory study. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2020;20(1):5.
Lopez-Gonzalez DM, Mikes BA. Postpartum care of the new mother. In: StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2025.
Rege M, Solli IF. The impact of paternity leave on fathers’ future earnings. Demography. 2013;50(6):2255-77.
Heymann J, Sprague AR, Nandi A, Earle A, Batra P, Schickedanz A, et al. Paid parental leave and family wellbeing in the sustainable development era. Public Health Rev. 2017;38(1):21.
Yogman MW, Eppel AM. The role of fathers in child and family health. In: Grau Grau M, Las Heras Maestro M, Riley Bowles H, editors. Engaged Fatherhood for Men, Families and Gender Equality. Springer Int Publ; 2022:15-30.
Hyland MC, Shen L. The evolution of maternity and paternity leave policies over five decades: a global analysis. Washington (DC): World Bank Group; 2022. Available at: http://documents.worldbank. org/curated/en/099658310202228905. Accessed on 05 October 2025.
Datta Gupta N, Smith N, Verner M. Child care and parental leave in the Nordic countries: a model to aspire to? SSRN Electron J. 2006;6.
Duvander AZ, Viklund I. How long is parental leave and for whom? An analysis of methodological and policy dimensions of leave length and division in Sweden. Int J Sociol Soc Policy. 2020;40(5/6):479-94.
Eydal GB, Arnalds ÁA. Nordic parental leave policy: the case of Iceland. Available at: https://nordics.info/ show/artikel/nordic-parental-leave-policy-the-case-of-iceland. Accessed on 09 October 2025.
Nandi A, Jahagirdar D, Dimitris MC, Labrecque JA, Strumpf EC, Kaufman JS, et al. The impact of parental and medical leave policies on socioeconomic and health outcomes in OECD countries: a systematic review of the empirical literature. Milbank Q. 2018;96(3):434-71.
Chang PP. Postpartum care service experience model: a case of postpartum home visiting services. Healthcare (Basel). 2018;6(3):91.
Kumarasinghe M, Herath MP, Hills AP, Ahuja KDK. Postpartum versus postnatal period: do the name and duration matter? PLoS One. 2024;19(4):e0300118.
Salam RA, Mansoor T, Mallick D, Lassi ZS, Das JK, Bhutta ZA. Essential childbirth and postnatal interventions for improved maternal and neonatal health. Reprod Health. 2014;11(S1):S3.
Dol J, Hughes B, Bonet M, Dorey R, Dorling J, Grant A, et al. Timing of maternal mortality and severe morbidity during the postpartum period: a systematic review. JBI Evid Synth. 2022;20(9):2119-94.
Haran C, Van Driel M, Mitchell BL, Brodribb WE. Clinical guidelines for postpartum women and infants in primary care: a systematic review. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2014;14(1):51.
Dagher RK, McGovern PM, Dowd BE. Maternity leave duration and postpartum mental and physical health: implications for leave policies. J Health Polit Policy Law. 2014;39(2):369-416.
Bratberg E, Naz G. Does paternity leave affect mothers’ sickness absence? Eur Sociol Rev. 2014;30(4):500-11.
Mannion CA, Hobbs AJ, McDonald SW, Tough SC. Maternal perceptions of partner support during breastfeeding. Int Breastfeed J. 2013;8(1):4.
Heshmati A, Honkaniemi H, Juárez SP. The effect of parental leave on parents’ mental health: a systematic review. Lancet Public Health. 2023;8(1):e57-75.
Fernández O, Aldoney D, Fernández S, Pérez F, García IM, Pérez CJ, et al. Fathers’ involvement: mothers’ perceived benefits of promoting paternal involvement through a WhatsApp-based preventive intervention for postpartum depression. Int J Men’s Soc Community Health. 2024;7(2):35-47.
McBride BA, Brown GL, Bost KK, Shin N, Vaughn B, Korth B. Paternal identity, maternal gatekeeping, and father involvement. Fam Relat. 2005;54(3):360-72.
Paquette D. Theorizing the father-child relationship: mechanisms and developmental outcomes. Hum Dev. 2004;47(4):193-219.
Jia R, Schoppe-Sullivan SJ. Relations between coparenting and father involvement in families with preschool-age children. Dev Psychol. 2011;47(1):106-18.
Schaber R, Kopp M, Zähringer A, Mack JT, Kress V, Garthus-Niegel S. Paternal leave and father-infant bonding: findings from the population-based cohort study DREAM. Front Psychol. 2021;12:668028.
Osborne A, Ahinkorah BO. The paternal influence on early childhood development in Africa: implications for child and adolescent mental health. Child Adolesc Psychiatry Ment Health. 2024;18(1):156.
Kotila LE, Schoppe-Sullivan SJ, Kamp Dush CM. Time in parenting activities in dual-earner families at the transition to parenthood. Fam Relat. 2013;62(5):795-807.
Konantambigi RM. Introduction. Psychol Stud (Mysore). 2023;68(2):131-7.
Department of Personnel and Training, Government of India. Central Civil Services (Leave) Rules, 1972. Rule 43-A: Paternity leave. Available at: https://www.referencer.in/CS_Regulations/CCS_Leave_Rules_1972/Chapter_05.aspx. Accessed on 05 October 2025.
Jothimani S. The Paternity Benefit Bill, 2019 (Bill No. 305 of 2019). Lok Sabha, Parliament of India. Available at: https://sansad.in/getFile/BillsTexts/ LSBillTexts/Asintroduced/305%20o%202019%20as.pdf?source=legislation. Accessed on 05 October 2025.
Finance Department, Government of Kerala. Kerala Service Rules (KSR), Part I, Rule 102B. Available at: https://www.finance.kerala.gov.in/includeWeb/fileViewer.jsp?dId=b8yd6wh2se5vg3t. Accessed on 05 October 2025.
Gummadi R. Paternity leave policy in India: a critical analysis. Int J Law Manag Humanit 2025. Available at: https://ijlmh.com/paper/paternity-leave-policy-in-india-a-critical-analysis/. Accessed on 05 October 2025.
Van Egdom D, Piszczek MM, Wen X, Zhang J, Granillo-Velasquez KE, Spitzmueller C. I don’t want to leave my child: how mothers and fathers affect mother’s breastfeeding duration and leave length. J Occup Organ Psychol. 2024;97(1):301-20.
Tavits M, Schleiter P, Homola J, Ward D. Fathers’ leave reduces sexist attitudes. Am Polit Sci Rev. 2024;118(1):488-94.
Bailey M, Byker T, Patel E, Ramnath S. The long-run effects of California’s paid family leave act on women’s careers and childbearing: new evidence from a regression discontinuity design and US tax data. Am Econ J Econ Policy. 2025;17(1):401-31.
World Health Organization. Infant and young child feeding. Available at: https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/infant-and-young-child-feeding. Accessed on 05 October 2025.
Heshmati A, Honkaniemi H, Fritzell S, Juárez SP. Parental leave benefits and maternal postpartum mental health in Sweden. JAMA Netw Open. 2025;8(4):e258062.
Moberly T. Doctors taking parental leave can face effective demotion, researchers find. BMJ. 2015;350:h1584.
Altieri MS, Salles A, Bevilacqua LA, Brunt LM, Mellinger JD, Gooch JC, et al. Perceptions of surgery residents about parental leave during training. JAMA Surg. 2019;154(10):1-7.
Byker TS. Paid parental leave laws in the United States: does short-duration leave affect women’s labor-force attachment? Am Econ Rev. 2016;106(5):242-6.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
