The early postnatal period is a critical time for both mothers and newborns, as a large proportion of maternal and neonatal deaths occur within the first week after delivery. Globally, only about 48% of mothers receive postnatal care within the first two days after childbirth, with much lower coverage in low- and middle-income countries. Early postnatal care (EPNC) plays a vital role in identifying and managing complications and improving maternal and newborn survival. However, the utilization of early postnatal care services remains low in many countries, including Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the determinants of early postnatal care utilization among mothers who gave birth in the previous 12 months in Adea Berga District, West Shoa Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia. A community-based unmatched case-control study was conducted among 465 mothers (155 cases and 310 controls). Participants were selected through simple random sampling. Data were collected through structured face-to-face interviews. Data were entered into EpiData and analyzed using Stata version 17. Both bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed. Adjusted odds ratios (AORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated, and statistical significance was declared at p < 0.05. Among the 465 mothers included in the study, 64.7% received antenatal care follow-up and 55.7% delivered at health centers. In multivariable analysis, several factors were significantly associated with early postnatal care utilization. Mothers living in urban areas were (AOR = 4.6, 95% CI: 2.1-10.3). Married women were (AOR = 3.0, 95% CI: 1.5-6.3). Mothers who had antenatal care follow-up were (AOR = 2.8, 95% CI: 1.3-6.0). Similarly, employed women (AOR = 2.5, 95% CI: 1.3-5.1), women with primary education (AOR = 1.4, 95% CI: 1.2-7.5), and those with access to transportation (AOR = 2.5, 95% CI: 1.5-4.4) had higher odds of early postnatal care utilization. Early postnatal care utilization was significantly influenced by place of residence, marital status, maternal education, employment, antenatal care follow-up, and access to transportation. Interventions focusing on strengthening antenatal care services, improving access to transportation, and enhancing maternal awareness, especially in rural areas, are essential to increase early postnatal care utilization.
Bayisa et al. (Mon,) studied this question.
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