Evaluation of the effectiveness and equity of the maternity protection reform in Chile from 2000 to 2015
Date
2019
Type:
Article
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16 p.
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Abstract
Introduction
According to the International Labor Organization, Maternity Protection (MP) policies try to
harmonize child care and women’s paid work, without affecting family health and economic security. Chile Law 20.545 (2011) increased benefits for economically active women and reduced requirements for accessing these benefits. The goals of the reform included: 1) to increase MP coverage; and 2) to reduce inequities in access to the benefits.
Method
This study uses two data sources. First, using individual data routinely collected from 2000 to 2015, yearly MP coverage access over time was calculated. Second, using national representative household surveys collected before and after the Law (2009 and 2013), coverage and a set of measures of inequality were estimated. To compare changes over time, we used non-experimental, before-after intervention design for independent samples. For each variable, we estimated comparative proportions at 95% confidence interval before and after the intervention. Additionally, we included multivariate and propensity score analysis.
Results
Between 2000 and 2015, MP coverage grew from 24.4% to 44.8%. Using comparable 2009 and 2013 survey data, we observed the same trend, with 31.6% of estimated MP coverage in 2009, escalating to 39.5% in 2013. We conclude that: 1) after the reform, there was an increase in MP coverage; and, 2) there was no significant reduction of inequities in the distribution of MP benefits.
Discussion/Conclusion
Few scientific evaluations of MP reforms have been conducted worldwide; even fewer
including an equity analysis. This study provides an empirically-based evaluation of MP
reform from both a population-level and an equity-focused perspective. We conclude that
this reform needs to be complemented with other policies to ensure maternity protection in
terms of access and equity in a country with deep socioeconomic stratification.
Description
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Citation
Plos One, 2019, 14(9):e0221150
Keywords
Chile, Mothers, Socioeconomics aspects, Equity, Pregnancy