title: Postnatal Care Service Utilization and Associated Factors among Women Who Gave Birth in the Last 12 Months prior to the Study in Debre Markos Town, Northwestern Ethiopia: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Study.
abstract: Improving maternal and newborn health through proper postnatal care services under the care of skilled health personnel is the key strategy to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality. However, there were limited evidences on utilization of postnatal care services in Ethiopia. A community based cross-sectional study was conducted in Debremarkos town, Northwest Ethiopia. Cluster sampling technique was used to select 588 study participants. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression model was fitted to identify factors associated with postnatal care utilization. Odds ratio with 95% confidence interval was computed to determine the level of significance. Postnatal care service utilization was found to be 33.5%. Awareness about maternal complication (AOR: 2.72, 95% CI (1.71, 4.34)), place of delivery of last child (AOR: 1.68, 95% CI: (1.01, 2.79)), outcome of birth (AOR: 2.71, 95% CI (1.19, 6.19)), delivery by cesarean section (AOR: 4.82, 95% CI (1.86, 12.54)), and delivery complication that occurred during birth (AOR: 2.58, 95% CI (1.56, 4.28)) were factors associated with postnatal care service utilization. Postnatal care service utilization was found to be low. Increasing awareness about postnatal care, preventing maternal and neonatal complication, and scheduling mothers based on the national postnatal care follow-up protocol would increase postnatal care service utilization.
authors.affiliation: College of Medicine and Health Science, Department of Midwifery, University of Gondar, P.O. Box 196, Gondar, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Miteku Andualem
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Limenih
authors.affiliation: College of Medicine and Health Science, Department of Midwifery, University of Gondar, P.O. Box 196, Gondar, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Zerfu Mulaw
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Endale
authors.affiliation: College of Medicine and Health Science, Institute of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Gondar, P.O. Box 196, Gondar, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Berihun Assefa
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Dachew