Information on, knowledge and utilisation of support services during pregnancy and after childbirth: cross-sectional analyses of predictors using data from the KUNO-Kids health study

Abstract

ObjectivesTo investigate mothers’ knowledge and utilisation of antenatal and perinatal support services as well as predictors of knowledge and service utilisation.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingProspective birth cohort in Regensburg, Eastern Bavaria, Germany.Participants2455 mothers after delivery.Outcome measuresParticipants’ knowledge of distinct antenatal and perinatal support services (poor vs good, defined by median split). Participants’ use of antenatal services provided by midwife (yes, no) and of any other antenatal support services (yes, no).ResultsThe vast majority of mothers knew at least some support services. Two-thirds of women (68.4%) reported to have used the services provided by midwives. 23.6% of women reported to have used at least one of the other antenatal services. Good knowledge of services was associated with higher education (OR 1.37, 95% CI 1.13 to 1.67), no migration background (OR 2.26, 95% CI 1.76 to 2.90), better health literacy (OR 1.04, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.06), while being primiparous (OR 0.72, 95% CI 0.60 to 0.86) and being unmarried/living with a partner (OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.57 to 0.89) reduced the chance. Predictors of service utilisation differed with regard to the services considered.ConclusionsOverall, mothers had a good level of knowledge of antenatal and perinatal support services. However, we found that some groups of women were less well informed. This inequality in social predictors of knowledge of services was also partly reflected in differences in service utilisation during pregnancy.

Suggestions for Promoting a Better Public Service System under the Low Fertility Dilemma Based on VAR Modeling

“…As an important part of the fertility support policy system, public services play an irreplaceable and important role in realizing fertility support and boosting fertility intentions [7]. The establishment of a diversified and inclusive public service system for fertility support should be regarded as an important element of fertility support policy because a public service that lacks diversification will result in structural or systematic discrimination, leading to the exclusion of a part of the population from the public service system, and at the same time constraining the real realization of the objectives of the public service [8][9]. Therefore, how to reasonably reflect the diversity of social interests is the core principle of constructing a public service system for fertility support [10].…”

Qualification of Prenatal Care and Management in the Context of Primary Health Care

“…Countries, in general, have demonstrated important initiatives related to improving the pregnancy-puerperium cycle. Studies show that sustainable development goals, especially those related to reducing maternal, neonatal, and infant mortality, can be achieved through collegiate and intersectoral efforts between the various actors and services (8)(9)(10)(11).…”

Development of Mothers' Health Literacy: Findings From the KUNO-Kids Study

“…Caring for the child, communicating with other parents and contacts to the health care system can be situations when parents are exposed to health information and in which HL is supposed to be crucial ( Morrison et al, 2019 ). The challenges of child (health) care might be even greater for first-time parents: First-time mothers experience more problems with breastfeeding ( Buckman et al, 2020 ; Hackman et al, 2015 ), use more often child health care services ( Lagerberg & Magnusson, 2013 ) and are less informed about psychosocial support services ( Brandstetter, Rothfuß et al, 2020 ).…”