UPTAKE OF POSTNATAL SERVICES AND DETERMINATE FACTORS AMONG WOMEN OF CHILD BEARING AGE IN ASSOSA DISTRICT, WEST ETHIOPIA UPTAKE OF POSTNATAL SERVICES AND DETERMINATE FACTORS AMONG WOMEN OF CHILD BEARING AGE Section MEDICAL SCIENCE

Abstract

Background: Postnatal care is important for both the mother and the child to treat complications arising from the delivery and after the delivery. Half of all postnatal maternal deaths occur during the postnatal period. The major reason for maternal death is a failure to use postnatal care services in these countries. However, the evidence on magnitude, reason and influencing factors on the utilization of postnatal care are rare in the region. Thus, this study aimed to assess the uptake of postnatal care services and associated factors among women of childbearing age.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on randomly selected samples of 536 women who had at least one delivery in the five years prior to the study. A structured questionnaire, FGD, and in-depth interview guide were used to collect data. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 16. Logistic regression was used to determine the association between variables.

Result: The finding of the study is that 87(19.7%) of the women turned to the health facilities to check-up her health status within the postnatal period. Determinant factors for utilization of postnatal services were ANC follow up [AOR=4.91, 95%CI: 2.32, 10.4], being knowledgeable on postnatal services [AOR=4.04, 95%CI: 1.01, 23.32], having favorable attitude towards postnatal services [AOR= 2.18, 95% CI: 1.03 5.58], and having favorable attitude towards family planning services [AOR= 2.94, 95% CI: 1.53, 5.65].

Conclusion and Recommendation: Therefore, the study revealed that there is very low utilization of postnatal services those who came for the follow-up visit within the postnatal period. Providing IEC and house-hold level discussion on the importance of PNC service utilization in the district is recommended.