The Factors Associated with Utilization of Postnatal Care Service in Sheka Zone, South-West Ethiopian Peoples Region

Abstract

Within the first month of life, most deaths of mothers and infants occur. Within the first 24 hours, about half of all maternal deaths occur. In the Sheka zone, southwest of the Ethiopian Peoples area, the study sought to investigate the parameters associated with postnatal care service consumption. From January 2021 to March 2022, a cross-sectional study based in the community was carried out. 1779 individuals in all were enrolled in the study. Variables having a bivariate logistic regression p-value of less than 0.25 were included in the multivariate logistic regression model as statistically significant variables. A P-value of less than 0.05 was used to indicate statistical significance. In the first six weeks after giving birth, this survey found that 54.9% of women used at least one postnatal care service. The vast majority of women who had four or more antenatal visits in the first six weeks accessed postpartum care services (68.48 %) Women who had four or more prenatal visits were 1.834 times more likely to receive postpartum care in the first six weeks than those who had fewer visits (AOR=1.834, 95% CI=1.413-2.380). Compared to women who give birth at home, those who give birth in medical facilities are more likely to receive postpartum care (AOR=1.473, 95% CI=1.163-1.867). Compared to other age groups, women between the ages of 20 and 24 were more likely to receive postpartum care (AOR=3.570, 95% CI=2.419-5.268). Women who attended Elementary school (AOR=2.356, 95% CI=1.717-3.233) and Secondary and above School (AOR=1.690, 95% CI=1.174-2.431) were more likely to receive Postnatal Care services than uneducated women. Women who had a job were more likely to receive Postnatal care than hadn’t job women (OR=5.857, 95% CI=14.013-8.549). Married women were more likely to receive Postnatal care services than Never married women (AOR=1.572, 95% CI=1.149-2.149). Women who gave birth to twins were more likely to receive Postnatal Care than women who gave birth to a child (AOR=0.360, 95% CI=0.250-0.519). This study showed that postnatal care services were underutilized in the Sheka Zone, Southwest Ethiopian People Regions. The utilization of postnatal care services will therefore rise if routine antenatal care is encouraged to be followed by institutional delivery along with integrated health education about postnatal care both during pregnancy and delivery. The research area's government and stakeholders should arrange skill development for using postnatal care.