Barriers to early postnatal care attendance among women in Ubungo Municipality in Tanzania: A qualitative study

Abstract

Introduction: Adequate utilization of postnatal care services is associated with improved maternal and neonatal health outcomes. The World Health Organization recommends postnatal women attend postnatal care as early as seven days after delivery because most maternal deaths occur within 7 days of the postnatal period. However, many postnatal women attend postnatal care very late during the 42 days and mainly for child immunization purposes. Little information is known on barriers to postnatal women who delay initiating postnatal care clinics for seven days post-delivery. This study explored barriers to attending early postnatal care among women attending early postnatal care services in Ubungo municipality, Dar es Salaam.  

Methods: A cross-sectional study design using a qualitative approach was used to explore factors associated with early postnatal care attendance among postnatal women in Ubungo Municipal, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Study participants were purposively selected. In-depth interviews were used to collect data. Audio-recorded interviews were transcribed verbatim and translated into English. Thematic analysis approach was used to excerpt barriers to delaying seeking early postnatal care services in Ubungo Municipality.

Findings: The finding revealed a lack of awareness of the appropriate time to start early postnatal care visits and the recommended number of postnatal visits, the perception of postnatal women that the postnatal period is a normal condition that does not require health personnel’s attention, thus the perception that no need to initiate early postnatal care clinics if they were not sick. Similarly, long waiting times, transport costs, and healthcare providers’ attitudes were major reasons reported by postnatal women to contribute to late postnatal care attendance. Thus, healthcare providers should continue providing education to pregnant women on when and the importance of attending early postnatal care.