A recent survey conducted by Northwestern University and Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago reveals that a significant number of new fathers in the United States take less than two weeks of paternal leave after the birth of their child. The study, which surveyed 261 fathers in Georgia, found that 64% reported taking minimal or no leave, while only 36% took more than two weeks off.
The main reason cited by fathers for not taking longer leave was the fear of losing their jobs. Clarissa Simon, a research associate at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and senior research scientist at Lurie Children’s, highlighted the lack of paid family leave as a barrier. “We know the U.S. lags behind the rest of the world in availability of paid family leave,” Simon stated. She emphasized that if paid leave were available, more fathers would likely take advantage of it.
Published on June 10 in Pediatrics, this study is reportedly the first to analyze work-leave practices among a representative sample of fathers listed on birth certificates in Georgia. The research underscores the role new fathers play in supporting maternal health and contributing to infant care practices such as breastfeeding and safe sleep arrangements.
Craig Garfield, professor at Northwestern University and physician at Lurie Children’s, noted the importance of early paternal involvement: “The research is clear...when they are there at the beginning, it predicts much greater involvement when that baby is 9 or 12 months old.”
The survey utilized data from PRAMS for Dads, an initiative started by Dr. Craig Garfield and piloted in Georgia since 2018. This tool collects information on various aspects affecting new fathers’ lives during pregnancy through an infant's first year.
Simon announced plans to expand this survey to additional states including Ohio, North Dakota, Massachusetts, Michigan, Wisconsin, New Jersey, and Maine. The goal is to create a gender-neutral survey accessible to all parents raising infants.
Funding for this study was provided by grants from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention.