Factors affecting utilization of postnatal care services among mothers attending antenatal clinic at Kampala International university teaching hospital

Abstract

The postnatal period refers to the first six weeks after birth. It is critical to the health and survival of a mother and her newborn but the quality of care for those who seek services is often poor and many women and their infants are not encouraged to seek care until 6 weeks after delivery. Therefore the purpose of the study was to assess factors affecting utilization of PNCs among mothers attending antenatal clinic at Kampala International University Teaching Hospital. METHODOLOGY: The study was descriptive cross-sectional, Quantitative methods were employed in data collection and 50 respondents were involved who were selected using a simple random sampling method. RESULTS: Most respondents 35 (70%) were in the age range of 25 – 34years, 35(70%) were from rural areas, 38 (72%) stopped in primary, majority were farmers 30(60%). Mothers had inadequate knowledge on the number of times they are supposed to attend postnatal care 35(70%), 40 (80%) knew need for PNCS although they had never experienced any abnormality in previous deliveries, respondents knew that there are some complication a mother can get during postnatal period like anemia 15(30%) wounds on the breast 12(24%), failure of the baby to breast feed 6 (12%). Health workers relationship with mothers was good 35(70%). 40(80%) delivered from hospital and most of respondents 35(70%) had support from their husbands, and family income