Research Article
Ashenafi Kifle, Lelisa Sena an
Abstract
Background: Postnatal Care (PNC) service is important for both mother and child not only to treat complications arising from the delivery, but also to provide the women with important information on how to care for themselves and their child.Objective: Identifying determinants of postnatal care service utilization among mothers who delivered during the past one year preceding the study.Methods: Unmatched case control study was conducted in Amigna district, Arsi zone from May to June, 2016. Data were collected from 116 cases and 234 controls selected by multistage random sampling. Data were collected by face-to-face interview using structured questionnaire, entered into EpiData and analyzed using SPSS. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regressions were performed to identify determinants of postnatal care service utilization.Results: Mother who attended at least secondary school utilized postnatal care over 3 times higher (95% CI: 1.4-7.3) than mother who didn’t attend formal education. Mother whose husband attended at least secondary school utilized postnatal care 3 times higher (95% CI: 1.3-6.7) than mother whose husband didn’t attend formal education. Mother who had good and moderate knowledge of postnatal care utilized it over 4 times (95% CI: 2.0-10.0) and over 3 times higher (95% CI: 1.4-7.3) respectively than mother who had poor knowledge of postnatal care. Mother who visited antenatal care at least once utilized postnatal care over 3 times higher (95% CI: 1.5-7.3) than mother who didn’t visit antenatal care. Mother who delivered at health institution utilized postnatal care nearly 4 times higher (95% CI: 2.0-7.2) than mother who delivered at home. Mother who traveled at most one hour to reach nearest health institution utilized postnatal care over 3 times higher (95% CI: 1.9-6.2) compared to mother who traveled more than one hour.Conclusion: Educational status, knowledge of postnatal care, antenatal care utilization, place of delivery and distance from health institution should be considered for intervention to improve postnatal care service utilization.