State‐Level Social and Economic Policies and Their Association With Perinatal and Infant Outcomes

Abstract

r State-level social and economic policies that expand tax credits, increase paid parental leave, raise the minimum wage, and increase tobacco taxes have been demonstrated to reduce adverse perinatal and infant health outcomes.r These findings can help prioritize evidence-based legislated policies to improve perinatal and infant outcomes in the United States.Context: Rates of preterm birth and infant mortality are alarmingly high in the United States. Legislated efforts may directly or indirectly reduce adverse perinatal and infant outcomes through the enactment of certain economic and social policies. Methods:We conducted a narrative review to summarize the associations between perinatal and infant outcomes and four state-level US policies. We then used a latent profile analysis to create a social and economic policy profile for each state based on the observed policy indicators.Findings: Of 27 articles identified, nine focused on tax credits, eight on paid parental leave, four on minimum wages, and six on tobacco taxes. In all but three studies, these policies were associated with improved perinatal or infant outcomes. Thirty-three states had tax credit laws, most commonly the earned income tax credit (n = 28, 56%). Eighteen states had parental leave laws. Two

Pumps: A Possible Tool to Promote More Equitable Lactation Outcomes

“…Lack of paid leave from work during the immediate postpartum period is among the greatest barriers to breastfeeding facing US families [47]. Much data supports that parental leave after childbirth is associated with reduced maternal and infant morbidity and mortality, as well as the establishment of exclusive breastfeeding, increased downstream earning potential and workforce retention, increased infant vaccination rates, and reduced maternal medical and mental comorbidities [48][49][50][51][52][53][54]. The 1993 Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) permits families to take parental leave after the delivery of a child [47].…”

US State Policy Contexts and Population Health

“…For example, some states enacted Medicaid expansion and higher minimum wages and higher tobacco taxes and paid sick leave and supplemental earned income tax credits (EITC)—and these bundles appear to be paying dividends in improved health, health behaviors, and longevity in those states 6,17 . Another example of bundling comes from a study of state policies that impact perinatal and infant outcomes 18 . It showed that some states have combined higher minimum wages and paid parental leave and tax credits and higher tobacco taxes, all of which improve those outcomes, while many other states bundled low minimum wages, no parental leave or tax credits, and low tobacco taxes.…”

“… 6 , 17 Another example of bundling comes from a study of state policies that impact perinatal and infant outcomes. 18 It showed that some states have combined higher minimum wages and paid parental leave and tax credits and higher tobacco taxes, all of which improve those outcomes, while many other states bundled low minimum wages, no parental leave or tax credits, and low tobacco taxes. Recently, researchers using an innovative counterfactual research design concluded that the growing disparities in working‐age mortality across states were due to growing differences in policy contexts and the bundling of policies.…”

Corrigendum

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In Webster et al (2022), the following references were combined erroneously:12. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

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