A simple way to increase service use: triggers of women's uptake of postpartum services

Abstract

Objective To examine the socio-demographic and service-related determinants of utilisation of postpartum services. Design Data were used from a single-blind, randomised controlled trial aimed at changing women's knowledge, attitude and behaviour regarding certain postpartum health issues by providing written information via a specially prepared booklet. Setting Four private hospitals, two in Beirut and two in the Bekaa region, were selected. All were privately owned and one in Beirut was a teaching hospital. Sample All women delivering a live birth in the designated hospitals during a three-to four-month period were recruited into the study. Of the 503 eligible women, 450 agreed to complete the initial questionnaire and 378 completed the postpartum interviews. Methods Eight trained female interviewers collected the baseline data. On discharge, interviewers handed each woman a sealed and numbered envelope containing the intervention booklet or the placebo leaflets.Interviewers were blind about the allocation group of women. Interviewers conducted follow up assessment at women's residence 6 -20 weeks after delivery. Main outcome measures Any postpartum visit with or without a preset appointment.Results Multivariable analysis with adjusted ORs show that women given an appointment for their postpartum visit were more likely to having had that visit (OR ¼ 6.8, 95% CI 6.2-7.4). In the absence of such an appointment, university education (OR ¼ 3.6, 95% CI 2.6-4.7), information on maternal health (OR ¼ 4.9, 95% CI 4.0 -5.8) and the intervention booklet (OR ¼ 2.9, 95% CI 2.0 -3.9) were important determinants of a postpartum visit. Conclusion Giving women appointments for postpartum visits, or written or verbal information on maternal health can increase their use of health services.

Jordanian health care providers' perceptions of post‐partum health care

“…The suggestions for improving services were also very similar between post‐partum women and HCPs and are also reflected in the literature (Kabakian‐Khasholian & Campbell 2005). This triangulation of data is very important in making comprehensive recommendations to the JMOH from the perspectives of HCPs and the post‐partum women they serve.…”

A cross‐sectional mixed study of the opportunity to improve maternal postpartum care in reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health services in the Kaya health district of Burkina Faso

“…Postpartum services should be upgraded, concerning the number and timing of postpartum contacts, assessment of exclusive breastfeeding and counseling as recommended by WHO [16]. The insufficient awareness about the importance of maternal postpartum care shown in our study should be addressed first at individual level during prenatal care and at delivery, at which time mothers should already have been given an appointment, together with the rationale for increasing the use of postpartum checkups [37]. Second, the role of community mobilization is important for child and maternal survival as shown by the literature [38–40].…”

Effect of Postnatal Home Visits on Maternal/Infant Outcomes in Syria: A Randomized Controlled Trial

“…In the Syrian context, it would also be worthwhile to find other innovative approaches to improve postpartum care. Approaches such as the one used in a neighboring country, namely Lebanon, that relies on printed materials (Kabakian-Kasholian & Campbell, 2005), could be irrelevant to many of the Syrian women, where the illiteracy rate is still high (Syrian Bureau of Central Statistics, 2001).…”