Factors affecting use of postnatal care services within 6 days of birth in Mpongwe District, Zambia

Background/Aims Early postnatal care can have a significant impact on maternal and neonatal health and wellbeing, especially through timely identification and management of postpartum complications. However, many mothers and their newborns do not receive early postnatal care from healthcare professionals during the essential first days after delivery. The aim of this study was to establish factors affecting use of postnatal care services within 6 days of birth in health facilities in Mpongwe District, Zambia. Methods This cross-sectional descriptive study explored factors affecting use of postnatal care among 152 randomly sampled postnatal mothers attending postnatal care within 6 weeks of birth at health facilities in the district. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data on the participants' sociodemographic, obstetric and health facility characteristics. Bivariate and multivariate regression analyses were used to analyse factors associated with use in the first 6 days of the postnatal period. Results Less than half of the participants received postnatal care within 6 days of birth (43.4%). Factors associated with early postnatal care use were number of children (1 child: P<0.001; 2–3 children: P=0.001), attending 6 or more antenatal care appointments (P=0.009), having adequate knowledge of postnatal care (P=0.023) and living within 5km of a health facility (P=0.008). Conclusions The majority of the study's participants did not attend postnatal care within the recommended timeframe. Early uptake of postnatal care is intricately linked to a combination of factors, including antenatal attendance and knowledge of postnatal care, highlighting the importance of antenatal education in promoting early postnatal care attendance. Implications for practice There is a need for a structured follow-up system for mothers in the 6 days after birth and the importance of improving women's awareness of the importance of early attendance at postnatal care.