ARBA MINCH UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF MEDICINE AND HEALTH SCIENCE SCHOOL OF NURSING

Abstract

Introduction: Early postnatal care, especially through home visits, is crucial for improving maternal and newborn health outcomes during the postpartum period. It addresses critical risks such as infections, hemorrhage, and breastfeeding challenges. In developing countries, postnatal home visits by community health workers enhance access to care, provide necessary support, and enable early detection of health issues. However, the coverage of early postnatal home visits by community health extension workers in rural communities remains considerably low. Objective: To assess the magnitude of Early Postnatal Home Visit by Health Extension Workers and Associated Factors among Mothers who delivered in the past six months in Dita District, Gamo zone, southern Ethiopia region, Ethiopia, 2024. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in the Gamo Zone Dita Districts from August 1–30, 2024. A multistage sampling technique selected 464 participants, and data were collected using interviewer-administered questionnaires. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 26, applying binary logistic regression to identify factors associated with early postnatal home visits by community health extension workers. Result: The coverage of early postnatal home visits was 17.8% (95% CI: 14.3%–21.1%). Factors significantly associated with early postnatal home visits by health extension workers included mothers residing within 30 minutes of a health post (AOR=3.82, 95% CI: 1.94–7.55), Households the model family (AOR=2.46.95%CI:1.17-5.16), Attendance antenatal visits (AOR=2.88,95%CI: 1.22–6.82), Institutional deliveries (AOR = 2.16, 95% CI: 1.18-3.94) and mothers with cesarean or instrumental deliveries (AOR = 3.34, 95% CI: 1.27–8.74). Conclusion: This study highlights the low coverage of early postnatal home visits by Health Extension Workers in the study area, compared to data from national targets. The concerned bodies include health extension workers, the woreda health office, zonal health departments, non-governmental organizations, community health workers, should implement interventions aimed at expanding healthcare access in remote areas, increasing the number and accessibility of health posts in geographically hard-to-reach areas, ensure equitable access for mothers from non-model households, enhancing antenatal care by educating women on the importance of regular antenatal care visits, encouraging institutional deliveries and offering targeted follow-up care for mothers who undergo cesarean sections or other assisted deliveries.