ARLY POSTNATAL CARE SERVICES UTILIZATION AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG WOMEN HAVE LESS THAN SIX MONTHS IN JUBA TEACHING HOSPITAL, SOUTH SUDAN

Abstract

Background: Globally, maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality has continued to be a challenge and this is mostly due to early postnatal care service utilization. Despite the importance of early postnatal care service use to reduce the high burden of maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality, the status and factor associated with early postnatal care service utilization was not well studied at Juba Teaching Hospital, South Sudan. Therefore, this study aimed to assess early postnatal care service utilization and associated factors among women who have less than six months old children at Juba Teaching Hospital, South Sudan. Objective: To assess the level of early postnatal care services utilization and associated factors among women who have less than six months old children at Juba Teaching Hospital, South Sudan, 2023. Methods: A facility based cross-sectional study design was employed from April 1 st to May 31 th ,2023 on 422 women who have less than six months children at Juba Teaching Hospital. A Systematic random sampling technique was used to select study participants. A pre-tested was done on 5% of sample (21 participants) outside the catchment area (Al- Sabah hospital), A face - face interview using structured questionnaires was used. Data was collected using Kobo toolbox and exported to SPPS version 27 software for analysis. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to determine candidate variables for multivariate logistic regression analysis at P-value less than 0.25. In multivariate logistic regression AOR with 95% confidence interval was used and the significant factors were declared at a P-value of less than 0.05. Result: In this study, the overall, 64.5% of women had used early postnatal care service in study area. Age group of mothers within 25-34 years, mother live in semi-urban residence, mother with family size of 4-6, mother with poor knowledge of pregnancy danger sign and women who gave birth at home were factors independently and significantly associated with early postnatal care service use in the current study. Conclusion and recommendations: Although this study reported higher results as compared to previous findings, so far, it needs more attention to reach 80-100%. Strengthening healthcare providers‟ counseling on all obstetrics danger sign, enhancing practice of institutional deliverwill increase the likelihood of using early postnatal care services