| Abstract: | Postnatal period is a period which starts immediately after the completion of delivery up to the next six weeks or 42 days. Over 60% of maternal deaths occur in the first 48 hours after delivery. Postnatal care could prevent the great majority of maternal and child morbidity and mortality. Despite its importance, this period is generally the most neglected in developing countries. Hence, considering the significance of this period and paucity of information in North Showa, the study was designed to assess the prevalence and factors affecting PNC service utilization among child bearing age women who gave birth in the past two years in Debre Birhan Town, Amhara National Regional Sate, Ethiopia. To assess the prevalence and factors affecting PNC service utilization in Debre Birhan Town among mothers who gave birth in the last 24 months, 2007 E.C Descriptive Community based cross-sectional survey was conducted to assess the prevalence and factors affecting postnatal care service utilization in Debre Birhan town from 10 April - 25 April 2015 G.C. The data were collected by structured questionnaire and interview. Cluster sampling method was employed to select 273 study participants. Bivariate and Multivariate analysis were used to identify risk factors associated with outcome variables; and a variable with P value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. The findings of this study revealed that postnatal care coverage was 23.9% and previous practice of Postnatal care (AOR , 95% CI : 5.19 (1.944 -13.897)), Mode of delivery AOR, 95% CI: 98.79 ( 2.38 - 32.46)), Information about PNC (AOR. 95%, CI : 5.116 (1.67 - 15.67 )) were found as predictors for Postnatal care service utilization in the study area. Generally the coverage of postnatal care is slightly higher compared with studies conducted in recent years. Lack of awareness, feeling of being healthy, perception of the care as not necessary, and being busy were the primary reasons for not seeking postnatal care services. Mode of delivery, information about postnatal care, autonomy on health care service and being counseled for PNC were the main factors which are found to affect postnatal care utilization. |
