POSTPARTUM SELF-CARE PRACTICE AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG POSTPARTUM MOTHERS AT SODO TOWN, WOLAITA ZONE,

Abstract

Background: Postpartum self-care refers to actions that the mother should take to manage side effects and avoid difficulties during the postpartum period. Around 70% of maternal deaths in Ethiopia occur during the postpartum period. Postpartum health issues will also affect women's physical, psychological and social or economic consequences during the postpartum period. One way of reducing maternal mortality and other health consequences during the postnatal period is improving a variety of postpartum self-care activities to encounter the postnatal health problems and complications. There is lack of information related to self-care practice in study area. Objective: - To assess postpartum self-care practice and associated factors among postnatal mothers at Sodo town, Wolaita zone, south Ethiopia. Methods: - A community based cross-sectional study was conducted among 598 postpartum mothers in Sodo town from July 15 to September 5, 2024. A systematic random sampling technique was used after the sample size is proportionally allocated to each kebeles. Data were collected by using a structured interviewer administered questionnaire, then coded and entered into Epi-data version 4.6 and exported to SPSS version 25 for analysis. Variables that had (P- value <0.25) in the bivariate logistic regression analysis were entered in to multivariable logistic regression model. Finally p value <0.05 was used to claim statistical significance. Result: Overall, level of postpartum self-care practice of mothers was 40.0% (95% CI). Having more than four antenatal care visits in the last pregnancy [AOR = 4.09: 95%CI (2.64-6.34)] , mothers who had no laceration or episiotomy during vaginal delivery [AOR=3.99:95%CI (2.25 7.07)], husband support [AOR=2.25:95% CI(1.26-4.01)], family support, [AOR=1.69:95% CI(1.09-2.61)], health extension visit [AOR=4.49:95% CI(2.73-7.38)], counseling about self-care practice before discharge [AOR=2.07:95% CI(1.34-3.21)], and good knowledge about self-care practice[AOR=1.9:95%CI(1.17-3.11)] were significant association with good postpartum self-care practice. Conclusion and recommendation:- Around one third of participants had good postpartum self-care practice. Therefore, strengthening counseling on self-care at discharge time, encouraging pregnant mothers on antenatal care follow up, increasing awareness about self-care and social support during home visit and enhance the level of knowledge would be improve the postpartum self-care practice