Impact of health education intervention on knowledge and utilization of postnatal care services among women in Edu Local Government of Kwara State, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: This study examined the impact of health education intervention (HEI) on the knowledge and utilization of postnatal care services among women in Edu, Nigeria.

Methods: A quasi-experimental research design using pre-test and post-test control group to examine impact of HEI among women. Researchers-developed questionnaire was used for data collection.

Intervention: One hundred and twenty women were exposed to ten weeks health education intervention; sixty (n=60) experimental group exposed to postnatal care services lectures and sixty (n=60) control group were exposed to HIV/AIDS prevention lectures. The results were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics to answer research question and test null hypothesis at 0.05 significant levels.

Results: The findings showed an improvement from pre intervention mean scores of 64.26 to post intervention scores of 98.15 for the experimental group against 68.88 post intervention mean score of control group. While, the pre intervention mean score of utilization was 56.67 compared with post intervention mean scores of 92.91 for the experimental group and 61.04 for the control group utilization This showed positive impact of health education intervention on knowledge and willingness of women of childbearing age to utilize postnatal care services in Edu LGA.

Conclusion: Study concluded that, health education intervention had positive impact on knowledge and willingness of WCA to utilize postnatal care, and the knowledge gained need to be sustained to improve WCA health seeking behaviour in the communities of Edu LGA.

Keywords: Edu local government area; Health education intervention; Knowledge and Utilization; Nigeria; Postnatal care services; Women of childbearing age