Postpartum Care Utilization among Primigravida: A Study in Rural Punjab, Pakistan

Abstract

The present paper examined some of the socio-economic factors associated with postpartum care utilization among primigravida (first time mothers) in rural Punjab, Pakistan. Data were collected from 205 primigravida within six weeks following their delivery. Maternal education, husband’s education, husband’s occupation, monthly household income and exposure to mass media turned out to be some of the important factors in postpartum care utilization. Antenatal care, type of delivery and place of delivery were significantly associated with the postpartum care services utilization. The findings of the present study clearly underscored the importance of educational attainments of both the spouses in determining the postpartum care utilization. This finding implies that education can help reduce maternal morbidity and mortality.

Keywords: Ante-natal care, Postpartum care, Primigravida, Maternal morbidity, Maternal mortality