Study on the Factors Associated with Postpartum Visits in Rural China

Abstract

BackgroundPostpartum visits (PPVs) have been advocated as a way to improve health outcomes for mothers and their infants, but the rate of PPVs is still low in rural China. This study aims to investigate the utilization of PPVs and to explore the factors associated with PPVs in rural China. Parity is the most concerned factor in this study.MethodsA cross-sectional household survey was performed in two counties of Zhejiang province. Questions include socio-economic, health services and women's delivery data. Chi-square tests and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with PPVs.Results223 women who had a delivery history in the recent five years were enrolled in analyses. 173 (78%) of them were primiparous. Among the primiparous women, 43 (25%) had not received any PPVs. The majority, 27 (55%) of the 49 multiparous women, had not received any PPVs. Multiparous women were less likely to receive PPVs than primiparous women. Among 223 puerperal women, 47 (21%) had been compensated for delivery fee expenses. Women who received compensation were found to be more likely to receive standard (at least 3) PPVs.ConclusionsIt was found that women with “second babies” were less likely to use PPVs. This could be an unintended consequence of the “one-child policy”, due to fear that contact with public health facilities could result in sanctions. This phenomenon should be taken seriously by government in order to improve the health of babies and their mothers. Financial compensation for delivery fee charges can improve the use of PPVs, thus free-of-charge delivery should be promoted.

Associations between social capital and maternal depression: results from a follow-up study in China

“…EPDS scores at T1 were higher than T3. However, studies in China tended to pay more attention to the period of 6–8 weeks postpartum among the primiparas [ 31 – 33 ]. We observed that the prevalence of depression was highest at the late pregnancy among our primiparas sample.…”

Effect of the new rural cooperative medical system on farmers’ medical service needs and utilization in Ningbo, China

“…Stratified multistage cluster sampling was conducted to obtain the sample as follows: 5 towns were selected from each of the two counties, 2 villages were selected from each town, and then families were selected from each village. The final sample was from 2000 families in 20 villages of 10 towns in the 2 counties [ 9 ]. To analyze the changes, the same villages were selected in the past three surveys.…”

“…Trained investigators were asked to conduct face-to-face interview to collect the data with the questionnaire. The organization, direction, inspection, and quality control of the survey were conducted by the trained directors [ 9 ].…”

The relationship between socioeconomic indicators during pregnancy and gynecological appointment at any time after childbirth

“…Regarding to the studies performed in other countries, there is a large variation of rates of maternal postnatal visits. The followings rates have been mentioned: 35 %, for Congo [ 6 ], 68.6 %, for China [ 8 ], and 85 %, for Unites States of America [ 2 ]. Comparison of rates of attendance to maternal postnatal visits among countries is difficult because the timing (as well content) of maternal postnatal visits varies widely.…”

“…Evidence indicates that health care coverage in the postpartum period is close to 90 % in developed countries [ 5 ], while rates are much lower in low- and middle-income countries. In general, the rate of attendance to postpartum visits is low varying from 34.6 %, in Congo [ 6 ] to 70 %, in Lebanon [ 7 ] and China [ 8 ]. Although studies have focused on the postpartum visit, usually limited at the first 3 or 4 months, a gynecological appointment at any time after childbirth (GA) is important for several reasons.…”