POST NATAL CARE UTILIZATION AMONG RURAL WOMEN IN NORTHERN PUNJAB; A CROSS SECTIONAL SURVEY

Post Natal Care; A Cross Sectional Survey

Abstract

Objective: The objectives of the study were to determine the frequency of mothers utilizing postnatal care (PNC) for themselves, to identify the reasons of non-utilization of the services and health problems faced by them in the post natal period.
Study Design: Descriptive cross sectional study.
Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted in rural Gujranwala (Northern Punjab) from June to Dec 2014.
Material and Methods: A total of 176 females having child of less than one year were chosen by systematic random sampling through household registers of four randomly chosen basic health unit (BHU). Data was collected through a pre tested questionnaire by trained lady health workers .SPSS version 20 was used for analysis.
Results: PNC within six weeks after delivery was utilized by 59 (33.5%) of the respondents while only 26 (14.8%) utilized PNC within 24 hours after delivery. However, majority i.e. 117 (66.5%) didn’t utilized the post natal care following delivery. The major problems faced by the respondents were weakness 27 (15.3%), fever 19 (10.8%) and vaginal pain 18 (10.2%). Some (17.8%) mothers reported to have more than one postpartum health problem. Utilization of PNC was significantly associated with the educational status of the respondent and place of last delivery.
Conclusion: Though women face a variety of problems in post natal period yet PNC utilization among mothers is poor. Literacy of the respondents and place of last delivery were found significantly associated with the utilization of PNC.