What is Happening During the Postnatal Visit?

Abstract

The authors' purpose in this study is to describe attendance, timing, and content of the postnatal visit in three communities in Lebanon. Data are collected with a household survey in three economically disadvantaged suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon. The sample was chosen using probability proportional to size sampling design. About half of the women attended their postnatal visit. Timing of the visit and the services provided varied tremendously. Underutilization and major deficiencies in the quality of postnatal services exist. Raising providers’ and women's awareness about the postnatal period and focusing on women's postnatal psychosocial needs can improve the quality of maternity services.

This article is part of a larger regional research project on Choices and Challenges in Changing Childbirth in the Arab Region, sponsored by the Faculty of Health Sciences at the American University of Beirut with partial support from the Wellcome Trust and Mellon Foundation.