Factors associated with postnatal care service utilization among mothers in Zambia: a cross sectional study based on the 2013-14 Zambia demographic and health survey

Abstract

Zambia has reported an increase in the proportion of women accessing the postnatal care in the first two days following the delivery of the baby. The factors associated with the utilization of this service are documented in various studies worldwide. In Zambia, however, there is insufficient information on the factors influencing maternal postnatal care service utilization. This study aimed at evaluating the factors influencing the maternal postnatal care service utilization in the first forty-eight hours following the delivery of the baby. The analysis was based on the 2013-14 Zambia Demographic and Health Survey (ZDHS) Data. The ZDHS has nationally representative data. The information was collected through face-to-face interviews of men and women as well as syphilis and HIV testing results. The 2013-14 ZDHS sampled 16,411 women age 15-49 years. This study focused on women who had a child within the two years preceding the study. To analyse the factors associated with maternal postnatal care utilization factors, chi-square testing and multiple logistic regression models were used. From the sample of 5,074 women who met the inclusion criteria, 82.4 per cent were between 15 and 34 years inclusive. Respondents who lived in the rural area represented 66.3 per cent of the sample. Seventy-two per cent delivered in a health facility. Married respondents represented 80.4 percent of the sample. Approximately 63.4 per cent of women had postnatal care in the first 48 hours after delivery of the baby. Women not delivering in a health facility were 87 per cent less likely to utilize postnatal care (aOR 0.13: 95% CI 0.90-0.20), those attended to by skilled personnel (aOR 2.32: 95% CI 1.58-3.38) were two times more likely, women in rural areas (aOR 0.60: 95% CI 0.47-0.77) were 40 per cent less likely and those who were told about pregnancy complications (aOR 1.44: 95% CI 1.08-1.93) were more likely to utilize postnatal care within 48 hours after delivery in Zambia. This study found out that place of delivery, skilled birth attendance, place of residence and being told about pregnancy complications were factors associated with maternal postnatal care utilization within the first 48 hours after delivery in Zambia.