https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5675-8270
Abstract
Background
Maternal mortality is unacceptably high in Ethiopia. Most maternal complications are preventable using immediate postnatal care. However, it is not utilized effectively. Hence, this study can assist in formulation of national policies to increase use of immediate postnatal care in Ethiopia.
Objective
To assess the prevalence and factors associated with immediate postnatal care utilization in Ethiopia, in 2016.
Methods
Secondary data analysis was done on Ethiopian Demographic Health Survey 2016 data, in a stratified, two-stage, and cluster sampling study. This analysis was restricted to postnatal women who had given birth at least once in the five years before the survey. Chi-square test of statistics was performed to identify factors associated with immediate postnatal care service uptake. Bi-variable and multi-variable logistic regression analyses were carried out to identify factors associated with immediate postnatal care utilization. Odds ratio with 95% confidence level was computed and P-value < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant in the multivariable logistic regression.
Results
The overall level of immediate postnatal care service utilization was 6.3% in Ethiopia. Urban setting (AOR=2.3, 95% CI, 1.9, 2.9), higher education status (AOR=1.6, 95% CI, 1.3, 2.0), secondary education status (AOR=2.6, 95% CI, 1.9, 3.6), primary education status (AOR=3.1, 95% CI 2.0, 4.6), always listening to the radio (AOR=2.4, 95% CI, 1.7, 3.2), being in a richer wealth quintile (AOR=4.2, 95% CI, 3.0, 5.8), being in a middle wealth quintile (AOR=2.8, 95% CI, 2.0, 3.9), being in a poorer wealth quintile (AOR=1.9, 95% CI, 1.3, 2.8), having fewer than six children (AOR=1.3, 95% CI, 1.1, 2.0), and being told about pregnancy complications (AOR=2.2, 95%CI, 1.7, 2.7) were factors positively associated with utlilization of immediate postnatal care.
Conclusion
Prevalence of immediate postnatal care utilization is still low in Ethiopia. Awareness should be created about immediate postnatal care utilization through the efforts of health extension workers. In addition, the Ethiopian government should design strategies to enhance the socio-economic status of women. Beside these, information about postnatal care and its benefit is critical and can be transmitted through mass media.
Abbreviations
WHO, World Health Organization; PNC, postnatal care; CI, confidence interval; DHS, demographic and health surveys; COR, crude odds ratios; SNNPRs, Southern Nation Nationality and People Regional State; EAs, enumeration areas; CSA, Central Statistical Agency.
Data Sharing Statement
Permission to access database was obtained. Database was available at https://dhsprogram.com.
Ethics Approval and Consent to Participate
We registered and requested data from DHS on-line archive. We received an approval to download identified DHS data files.
Acknowledgments
We would like to acknowledge ‘Measure DHS’ for granting permission to use the Demographic and Health Survey data in this secondary analysis.
Author Contributions
All authors made a significant contribution to this study. They participated in study conception, design, execution, analysis, and interpretation effectively. Moreover, they took part in drafting, revising, or critically reviewing the first draft. Furthermore, they gave their approval for the final version to be published.
Disclosure
All authors declare that they had no competing interest.