UTILIZATION OF POSTNATAL CARE SERVICES AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG WOMEN IN SHAO, MORO LGA, KWARA STATE

Postnatal care services during the first six weeks after birth are critical to the health and survival of the mother and her newborn, yet postnatal care remains a neglected aspect of modern maternity care globally. This study examined the utilization of postnatal care services and associated factors among women in Shao, Moro Local Government Area, Kwara State. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in Moro Local Government Area. Two hundred and ninety women of childbearing age (15-45years) who had delivered were selected using a multi-stage sampling technique. A pretested structured questionnaire was used to collect data on knowledge, awareness, attitude and factors affecting utilization of postnatal care. Chi-square test was used to determine associations between variables at a significance level of p<0.05. The majority of respondents (83.4%) had utilised postnatal care services. Health workers were the major source of information (48.2%). The variation in utilization by age group, education and marital status was statistically significant (p<0.05), while occupation and place of residence were not statistically significant (p>0.05). The majority of respondents had good knowledge of postnatal care services and a high level of utilization. Cost of services, availability, and poor access to health education were identified as major barriers to utilization.