A simple way to increase service use: triggers of women's uptake of postpartum services.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the socio-demographic and service-related determinants of utilisation of postpartum services.


METHODS
Data were used from a single-blind, randomised controlled trial aimed at changing women's knowledge, attitude and behaviour regarding certain postpartum health issues by providing written information via a specially prepared booklet.


METHODS
Four private hospitals, two in Beirut and two in the Bekaa region, were selected. All were privately owned and one in Beirut was a teaching hospital.


METHODS
All women delivering a live birth in the designated hospitals during a three- to four-month period were recruited into the study. Of the 503 eligible women, 450 agreed to complete the initial questionnaire and 378 completed the postpartum interviews.


METHODS
Eight trained female interviewers collected the baseline data. On discharge, interviewers handed each woman a sealed and numbered envelope containing the intervention booklet or the placebo leaflets. Interviewers were blind about the allocation group of women. Interviewers conducted follow up assessment at women's residence 6-20 weeks after delivery.


METHODS
Any postpartum visit with or without a preset appointment.


RESULTS
Multivariable analysis with adjusted ORs show that women given an appointment for their postpartum visit were more likely to having had that visit (OR = 6.8, 95% CI 6.2-7.4). In the absence of such an appointment, university education (OR = 3.6, 95% CI 2.6-4.7), information on maternal health (OR = 4.9, 95% CI 4.0-5.8) and the intervention booklet (OR = 2.9, 95% CI 2.0-3.9) were important determinants of a postpartum visit.


CONCLUSIONS
Giving women appointments for postpartum visits, or written or verbal information on maternal health can increase their use of health services.
Kabakian-Khasholian
Tamar
T
Department of Health Behaviour and Education, Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, Lebanon.
Campbell
Oona M R
OM
D000328:Adult; D001071:Appointments and Schedules; D001294:Attitude to Health; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010174:Pamphlets; D010298:Parity; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D011181:Postnatal Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016037:Single-Blind Method