Effect of Postnatal Care-Supportive Education on Knowledge, Willingness and Utilization of Postnatal Care Services among Pregnant Mothers in Rural Areas in Ebonyi State, Nigeria

Abstract

Postnatal care is a crucial aspect of maternal and child health, reducing maternal and newborn deaths. However, it is often neglected in the healthcare system. This study aimed to investigate the impact of postnatal care-supportive education on knowledge, willingness, and utilization of PNC services among pregnant mothers in rural areas of Ebonyi State, Nigeria. The research involved six objectives, two hypotheses, and a quasi-experimental design. The study used multistage and simple random techniques to select local government areas and health facilities, while purposive sampling was employed to select 225 pregnant mothers. A pretested questionnaire was used for data collection, with a content validity index of 0.92 and a reliability coefficient of 0.84. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 25. The results showed that 94.7% of respondents were Christians, 10.7% attended tertiary institutions, and 16.4% were civil servants. Pre-intervention, pregnant mothers had low knowledge of available PNC services and associated risks, but their knowledge improved significantly post-intervention. Factors such as education, age, and occupation were significantly associated with mothers' knowledge. The study also found low utilization of PNC services at baseline, with only 18.0% using services adequately in previous deliveries and 27.1% not using at all. Mothers demonstrated good willingness to utilize PNC services in subsequent deliveries. The study recommends that skilled healthcare workers provide adequate and well-prepared health education to mothers during antenatal and postnatal clinics to create awareness and make them understand the benefits of PNC services, ultimately improving utilization and reducing maternal and newborn deaths.