Attitude of postpartum women towards multiple postnatal clinic schedule in south-west Nigeria.

Background: The postnatal period is a critical in the lives of mothers and babies due to the risk of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. According to the Nigeria Demographic Health Survey 2018, only 38 % of women and 42;% of newborns received a postnatal check in the first 2 days after birth. The World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends that postpartum women should have contact with healthcare providers within 24 h, at day 3, days 10-14 and 6 weeks post-delivery. Multiple postnatal clinic (PNC) visits will allow assessment and prompt treatment of complications arising from delivery. This study assessed the attitude of postpartum women towards multiple PNC schedule.

Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study assessed the attitude of postpartum women towards multiple PNC schedules. A total of 167 respondents participated in the study and data was collected using a semi-structured interviewer administered questionnaire. Information on awareness, knowledge and purpose of postnatal care, preference for multiple schedules and the timing of postnatal care visits were obtained. Data was analysed using IBM SPSS version 23; and the level of significance was set at p < 0.05.

Results: Of the respondents, 71.9 % had poor or incorrect knowledge. About 87.4 % perceived PNC as beneficial; and that mothers and newborns should be seen at least three times (47.9 %) in the postnatal period. A high proportion of women were willing to come for PNC on day 3 (74.3 %), days 10-14 (86.2 %) and six weeks postpartum (91.6 %). Also, 69.5 % were willing to come for multiple PNC visits. Parity was significantly associated with willingness to attend multiple PNC visits.

Conclusion: Despite suboptimal knowledge of the components of postnatal care services, postpartum women have a good attitude to postnatal care and are willing to attend scheduled and multiple PNC schedules. However, fewer women wanted the multiple PNC schedules. Health education and quality postnatal care will enhance postpartum surveillance with prompt detection and treatment of maternal and neonatal complications to forestall life-threatening complications or mortality.