Early Post-natal Care Services Utilization and its associated factors among mothers Systemic Review and Meta-Analysis

Heliyon. 2023 Dec 18;10(1):e23760. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e23760. eCollection 2024 Jan 15.

Abstract

Background: Early Post-natal Care Services are defined as the care given to the mother and the newborn baby after childbirth of a few weeks. This time is the most life-threatening time since most maternal and neonatal mortality takes place.

Methods: The preferred reporting elements for the Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) checklist methodology were used to build the current systematic review and meta-analysis. A systematic literature search was done at the electronic database using the Pub Med database, PubMed/MED-LINE, CINAHL, Google Scholar, Google, Web of Sciences, and Google Scholar to identify potential research. The retrieved author/year, study region, design, and sample size of all the authors. A standardized data-gathering measuring tool was used to obtain the data. I2 test statics were used to verify the heterogeneity among the investigations. The statistical program STATA 17 was used to analyze the data. Analysis of sensitivity was verified. The asymmetry of the funnel plot and statistically significant Egger's test at a 5 % significant level indicated the presence of publication bias. The pooled prevalence of mothers' use of early postnatal care services and the factors associated with it were determined using a random effect model.

Result: A total of 4498 mothers were involved in 10 studies. The pooled prevalence of Early Postnatal Care Services Utilization and Its Associated Factors among Mothers in Ethiopia was (28.51 % (95%CI, [20.95, 36.06]). According to the pooled effect, utilizing postnatal care services early was associated with formal education four points, or seven times (OR = 4.73 (95%CI, 3.12, 7.18)) higher likelihood. An early postnatal care service user is three times more likely to know early post-care visits (OR = 3.63 (95%CI, 1.25, and 10.50)).Early postnatal care service consumption is five times more likely to be associated with birth complications (OR = 4.93 (95%CI, 2.62, 9.27)). Being three times more likely to use early post-natal care services if an ANC is present (OR = 3.56 (95%CI, 2.03, 6.26)). Women who had traveled fewer than 2 h were three times as likely to have used early post-natal care services (OR = 3.47 (95%CI, 2.32, 5.20)). Early Post-natal care services utilization history ((OR = 2.26 (95%CI, 1.68, 3.04)) women who had previously used early post-natal care services.

Conclusion and recommendation: In comparison to national guidelines, the WHO, and other research, Ethiopia's pooled prevalence of accessing early postnatal care services is low. Prenatal care service use and birth complications also have a significant impact on the use of early postnatal care services. Improving early postnatal care service usage requires expanding the availability of antenatal care services on a national scale. Strengthening prenatal care services, increasing the number of health centers and health posts, increasing delivery at health facilities, and emphasizing or improving mothers' knowledge of and attitudes toward early post-natal care contact are all critical to improving quality of life and lowering neonatal and maternal morbidity and mortality. Future studies and the Ethiopian Ministry of Health should concentrate on improving the use of prenatal care services, minimizing and managing birth complications, and enhancing the use of early postnatal care services.

Keywords: Associated factors; Early post-natal care services; Ethiopia; Prevalence; Systematic review; Utilization; meta-Analysis.

Publication types

  • Review