Effect of Perceived Factors on the Utilisation of Postnatal Care Services by Nursing and Postpartum Mothers in Gwer-East Local Government Area of Benue State, Nigeria.

Abstract

Introduction: This study assessed the effect of perceived factors on the utilisation of postnatal care services by nursing and postpartum mothers in Gwer-East Local Government Area of Benue State. Five objectives were set in the study. Five research questions and five hypotheses were postulated to guide the study. Methodology: The study employed a descriptive survey research design. The population of the study comprised all the nursing mothers attending routine immunisation or other healthcare services with their children in Gwer-East Local Government Area. Total Population Sampling technique was used in the study to sample 198 nursing mothers for the study. The instrument used for data collection was a structured questionnaire designed by the researcher and titled Utilisation of Postnatal Care Services Questionnaire (UPCSQ). Data for this research was obtained through the administration of the questionnaire on respondents. Hand delivery method was used for both the distribution and collection of the questionnaires. The researcher used binary logistic regression to analyse the data at 0.05 level of significance. Results: age [15 – 25 yrs (aOR:8.0, 95%CI: 4.2 – 44.2, p<0.05); 26 – 35 yrs (aOR:6.7, 95%CI: 4.5 – 16.9, p<0.05); 36 – 45 yrs (aOR:2.8, 95%CI: 0.8 – 10.2, p<0.05)]; place of residence [Rural (aOR:0.36, 95%CI: 0.01 – 0.12, p<0.05)]; employment status [unemployed (aOR:0.192, 95%CI: 0.079 –.465, p<0.05); Employed (aOR: 1.117, 95%CI: 0.525 – 2.378, p>0.05); Contract Worker (aOR: 1.203, 95%CI: 0.481 – 3.012, p>0.05)]; level of education [No Formal (aOR:0.001, 95%CI: 0.00 – , p>0.05); Primary (aOR:0.85, 95%CI: 019 – .379, p<0.05); Secondary (aOR:0.220, 95%CI: 0. 084 – .576, p<0.05)]; level of income [Low (aOR:0.032, 95%CI: 0.010 – 0.105, p<0.05); Middle (aOR:0.66, 95%CI: 0.029 – 1.151, p<0.05)] have a significant effect on utilisation of postnatal care services by postpartum mothers. Recommendations: Government effort to strengthen postnatal care utilisation should focus on universal coverage by addressing financial barriers to vulnerable groups, quality improvement to increase women’s satisfaction and carry the less privilege along and integration programmes to maximize the contact between women and health care services during and after delivery and to enhance economic development. Index Terms: Utilisation, Postnatal Care Services, Nursing Mothers, Postpartum Mothers, Perception.