title: Use of postpartum health services in rural Uganda: knowledge, attitudes, and barriers.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to explore the knowledge, attitudes and barriers to use of postpartum care service among rural communities in Uganda. Study was a part of a larger reproductive health evaluation project, and was cross-sectional in nature utilizing qualitative research methods using the narrative inquiry. Two matched rural communities were used in this study; Semuto in Luwero district, and Lwamaggwa in Rakai district. Fifty key informants who were purposefully selected from each study site were interviewed. They included community leaders, political leaders, health care providers, women leaders and community members. One-on-one interviews were conducted with key community informants using an interview guide. The purpose of the interview was explained to each participant, and written informed consent was obtained before the start of the interview. Respondents were allowed to express their views, opinions and observations on several health issues including postpartum health care services. There was a low level of knowledge about postpartum care services among the respondents of the two communities. There was lack of awareness about postpartum care and it's benefits. The main barriers to use of services were; misconceptions regarding the importance of postpartum care, distance to health facilities, poverty, and health system factors notably; poor facilities, lack of essential drugs, and poor attitudes of health workers. In the effort to improve reproductive health care services, there is an urgent need to improve postpartum services, and make them more accessible and user friendly. The training of providers at all levels is essential, in addition to educating families on the importance of postpartum care services.
authors.affiliation: Department of Maternal and Child Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Ryals Buliding, 1665 University Blvd, Suite 440, Birmingham, AL 35205, USA. nabukera@uab.edu
authors.forename: Sarah K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Nabukera
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Witte
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Muchunguzi
authors.forename: Francis
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bajunirwe
authors.forename: Vincent K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Batwala
authors.forename: Edgar M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Mulogo
authors.forename: Celeste
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Farr
authors.forename: Souleymane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Barry
authors.forename: Hamisu M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Salihu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003256:Community Participation; D003469:Culture; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008427:Maternal Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000600:supply & distribution; D009035:Mothers / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology; D011181:Postnatal Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000600:supply & distribution; D014454:Uganda