Health Extension Postnatal Care Services Utilization and Associated Factors Among Mothers in Kindo Didaye District, Southern Ethiopia: a Community-Based Mixed-Method Study

Background: Postnatal care is care provisions being delivered during postnatal period. Lack of care in this period may result in death or disability as well as missed opportunities to promote healthy behaviors affecting women, newborns, and children. We need to understand the level and factors affecting health extension postnatal care services utilization. Objective: To determine the prevalence of health extension postnatal care services utilization and associated factors among mothers who gave birth in the last year in Kindo Didaye district, Southern Ethiopia, 2017. Methodology: A community-based cross-sectional mixed-method study was conducted from March 1-30, 2017 to get the final sample size of 645 mothers. Descriptive statistics were used to describe study participants. Binary logistic regression was used to identify associated factors among the explanatory variables at P < 0.05. Results: The prevalence of utilization of Post-natal care services is 32.8%. Having husbands attended secondary and above education, having at least one Antenatal care attendance, last delivery in the health institution, planning to utilize services, visitation, and notification of delivery by Health extension workers were factors to utilize services. The majority of Focus group discussion participants said that Health extension workers were not visiting at their homes and hence mothers might not be encouraged to attend health extension Post-natal care services. Conclusion: The prevalence of mothers who utilized health extension Post-natal care services in the district was very low. Thus, focusing on the identified factors could improve and sustain Post-natal care services from rural Health extension workers.