• David Rabinerson, Rinat Gabbay-Benziv, Rinat Gabbai-Benziv, and Iris Rasooly.
• Helen Schneider Hospital for Women, Rabin Medical Center, Petah Tikva. dadirabi@gmail.com
• Harefuah. 2014 Jan 1; 153 (1): 52-5, 63.

AbstractIt is commonly accepted that pregnancy incurs an extra burden on the pregnant woman--both physically and mentally. Therefore, many Western countries have adopted social plans to enable pregnant women to leave their workplace without losing their income. This social right is only approved if there is a medical reason to believe that continued work might have an adverse effect on the mother or the fetus. In Israel, such a social benefit also exists. Data shows that the annual demand for this allowance is constantly increasing, while no improvement is found in preterm deliveries, or infant and maternal mortality. These facts raise the question of whether there is a justification to go on with the current policy regarding paid sickness absence during pregnancy. Furthermore, population analysis of pregnant women who require this social right in Israel may lead to a conclusion regarding its misuse. Misuse of social rights by pregnant women may, in turn, lead potential employers to refrain from hiring women in their reproductive age.

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