Publications

The postnatal is defined by the World Health Organization as the period beginning one hour after delivery of theplacenta and continuing until six weeks after the birth of an infant. To determine the socio-economic factorsassociated with low utilization of postnatal care services at KIUTH. Also to identify cultural factors associated withlow utilization of postnatal care services at KIUTH. In other words, to find out hospital facility-related factorsassociated with low utilization of postnatal care services at KIUTH. A cross-sectional hospital-based study designwas used to conduct the study among 140 mothers attending maternal and child health clinics in KampalaInternational University Teaching Hospital during the study period and only those who consent to participate inthe study. The results indicated that the majority of the participants 66(47.1%) were between 21 and 30 years oldand most of them 58(41.4%) attained school up to secondary level. A high proportion of 120(85.7%) of theparticipants were married and the majority 75(53.6%) were farmers. Furthermore, the majority of the participants70(50%) said that their husbands were not supportive of them and also most of them were moving a distance ofbetween 1 and 2 Kilometers from home to the health facilities. From the results, the government should increasethe staffing of health units such that mothers can be encouraged to attend postnatal care services. Health workersshould do more health education to mothers, especially during their antenatal visits about the need for earlierattending postnatal care services after delivery. Mothers who deliver from health centers should be encouraged toattend post-natal care services and they can be encouraged to bring their husbands so that they both can be healtheducated about the health of the mother and the child. The government should use mass media like radios, andtelevisions to encourage mothers to utilize postnatal services in increased numbers.