Assessing Determinants Of Postnatal Care Utilization Among Adolescent Mothers In Rural Northern Malawi

Even though much progress has been achieved at global level,maternal mortality remains a public health challenge that constantly confronts the world’s marginalized and vulnerable groups in society.Adolescent mothers in rural settings constitute one such marginalized and vulnerable group that contributes highly to maternal mortality.Although there is adequate evidence to suggest that Post-natal care services play a critical role in reducing maternal deaths,its utilisation is generally minimal among adolescent mothers in low and middle-income countries.Against this background,the main objective of the study was to assess the determinants of post-natal care(PNC)services utilization among adolescent mothers in rural settings in northern Malawi.This was a community based cross-sectional study conducted in three(3)rural health care facilities of the northern district of Mzimba.A total of 586 adolescent mothers who gave birth in the last two years prior to the study were sampled for this study using multistage sampling technique.A questionnaire using interviewing method was used to collect the data and the analysis was made using frequency distribution and logistic regression.The level of significance was established at95% Confidence Level.The study results reveal that appropriate postnatal care services utilization was at 40%.This means that majority of the participants did not meet the recommended postnatal visit of four times as recommended by WHO.The findings of the study show that age,parity,marital status,occupation,education,family/household income and distance to health facility were associated with postnatal care utilisation.In addition to these,the study finds that obstetric complications,caesarean births and vaginal bleeding were more significantly associated with postnatal care utilization among adolescent mothers.The study concludes that need factors were the most significant determinants of PNC utilization among the adolescent mothers.Therefore,the study recommends the enhanced strengthening of the provision of Information Education and Communication(IEC)on availability of postnatal care services and possible postpartum obstetric danger signs,encourage mothers to go back to school after giving birth,encourage education among male partners,empower and encourage mothers to get involved in decision making especially on matters that affect their own health.The government should also ensure that health facilities are made available within reasonable distance to households within communities.