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Child Mortality, Parental Leave, and Gender Equality in Nigeria’s Public and Private Sectors

Motimifagha Kei

Abstract

Child mortality remains a pressing public health concern in Nigeria, with significant implications for gender equality and national development. Parental leave policies play a crucial role in reducing child mortality rates by ensuring that infants receive adequate care, breastfeeding, and medical attention in the critical early months of life. These policies simultaneously serve as a proxy measure for gender equality, particularly in terms of redistributing caregiving responsibilities, supporting women’s workforce participation, and equal contribution to national development. However, how parental leave policies are operationalised across public and private sectors not only vary and poorly understood, but also how this relates to gender equality has not been adequately interrogated. How does parental leave policy in Nigeria’s public and private sectors impact child mortality rates? What is their variation(s), if any, and how do they influence gender equality? This paper examines the relationship between child mortality, parental leave, and gender equality in Nigeria’s public and private sectors. The study adopts Motherism and human capital theory as its theoretical guide, secondary data to explore disparities in leave entitlements, workplace policies, gender equality, and their broader socio-economic implications. Key Words: Mortality, Parental Leave, Gender Equality, Motherism, Public Policy, Development

Keywords

MortalityParental LeaveGender EqualityMotherismPublic PolicyDevelopment

References

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