Factors Associated with Compliance with the Recommended Frequency of Postnatal Care Services in Four Rural Districts of Tigray Region, North Ethiopia

BACKGROUND: The postpartum period has been advocated as a way to improve the survival of mothers and newborns. However, the status of the recommended number of postnatal care (PNC) services has not been well studied. The purpose of this study was to assess the level of full PNC visits and factors associated with it among mothers. METHODS: A community-based cross-sectional study was performed among 1,109 women from March to April 29, 2017. Data were collected via face-to-face interviews, recorded using EPI INFO ver. 7.0 (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA) and analyzed by STATA ver. 12.0 (Stata Corp., College Station, TX, USA). Multivariate logistic regression was applied to assess the predictors of the recommended frequency of PNC services. Adjusted odds ratios (aORs) at 95% confidence interval (CIs) were performed. P-values <0.05 were declared statistically significant. RESULTS: Status of compliance with the use of full PNC services was found to be 16.1%. Women who had antenatal care follow-up (aOR, 5.60; 95% CI, 2.50 to 12.55) and women who delivered at health institutions (aOR, 3.66; 95% CI, 1.74 to 7.70) were more likely to have full PNC visits. Proximity of women to health facilities was found to lower the odds of complete PNC visits (aOR, 0.24; 95% CI, 0.10 to 0.56). Moreover, district of residence remains a predictor of service use. CONCLUSION: The percentage of women with full PNC visits was found to be low. Therefore, to achieve the recommended frequency of PNC in the study area, the results of this study suggest a need to strengthen the uptake of ANC and institutional delivery services.