Factors influencing utilization of postnatal care Services among postnatal mothers who delivered from China-Uganda Friendship Hospital, Kampala District

Abstract

Only 13% of women in Africa attend postnatal care appointments. Despite the availability of postnatal care services at China Uganda Friendship Hospital Naguru (CUFHN), utilization of PNC services remains low. Specifically, this study looked at the level of utilization of postnatal care services, the individual and healthcare factors and modalities for improving utilization of postnatal care services among postnatal mothers who delivered from CUFHN. Analytical cross sectional research design was used, with quantitative methods of data collection. A sample of 381 respondents who were postnatal mothers was used, selected by simple random sampling. Data was collected using researcher administered questionnaires and analyzed using SPSS version 25. Utilization of postnatal care services was low at 14%. Socio-demographic factors that were significantly associated with utilization of PNC services were; age (p=0.001), religion (p=0.024), marital status (p=0.048), education (P=0.034). Significant individual factors included; work (p=0.001), cultural norms (p=0.014), education about PNC (p=0.006), birth order (p=0.010), having children (p=0.025), HIV testing (p=0.024), husbands’ involvement (P=0.002), use of herbal medicine (p=0.004), financial constraints (p=0.001), means of transport (p=0.001). Significant healthcare factors included; distance (P=0.001), availability of maternity services (p=0.038), affordability of drugs at local pharmacies (P=0.001), availability of drugs (p=0.042), diagnosis before prescription and treatment (P=0.005), availability of health workers (p=0.033),privacy (p=0.039), waiting time (p=0.001) and enough seats and beds (p=0.038). There was low utilization of PNC services. This was mainly due to maternal old age, high parity, and knowledge about PNC, among others. Policy to enhance PNC service utilization needs to be enacted and revised from time to time to enhance effective utilization