SINGAPORE, May 21 -- Fathers who took paternity leave in Singapore were no more likely to have a second or third child than those who did not, according to a new study that suggests leave policies alone may not be enough to reverse falling birth rates.

The study, led by National University of Singapore professor of paediatrics Jean Yeung, found no statistically significant difference in couples having additional children regardless of whether fathers took one week, two weeks, or no paternity leave at all.

Based on data from 1,835 households in the Singapore Longitudinal Early Development Study (SG-LEADS), the research examined families with children born between 2013 and 2019, reported The Straits Times (ST).

At the time, Singapore off...