Prevalence and Factors Associated with Immediate Postnatal Care Utilization in Ethiopia: Analysis of Ethiopian Demographic Health Survey 2016

Background: Maternal mortality is unacceptably high in Ethiopia. Most maternal complications are preventable using immediate postnatal care. However, it is not utilized effectively. Hence, this study can assist in formulation of national policies to increase use of immediate postnatal care in Ethiopia. Objective: To assess the prevalence and factors associated with immediate postnatal care utilization in Ethiopia, in 2016. Methods: Secondary data analysis was done on Ethiopian Demographic Health Survey 2016 data, in a stratified, two-stage, and cluster sampling study. This analysis was restricted to postnatal women who had given birth at least once in the five years before the survey. Chi-square test of statistics was performed to identify factors associated with immediate postnatal care service uptake. Bi-variable and multi-variable logistic regression analyses were carried out to identify factors associated with immediate postnatal care utilization. Odds ratio with 95% confidence level was computed and P-value < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant in the multivariable logistic regression. Results: The overall level of immediate postnatal care service utilization was 6.3% in Ethiopia. Urban setting (AOR=2.3, 95% CI, 1.9, 2.9), higher education status (AOR=1.6, 95% CI, 1.3, 2.0), secondary education status (AOR=2.6, 95% CI, 1.9, 3.6), primary education status (AOR=3.1, 95% CI 2.0, 4.6), always listening to the radio (AOR=2.4, 95% CI, 1.7, 3.2), being in a richer wealth quintile (AOR=4.2, 95% CI, 3.0, 5.8), being in a middle wealth quintile (AOR=2.8, 95% CI, 2.0, 3.9), being in a poorer wealth quintile (AOR=1.9, 95% CI, 1.3, 2.8), having fewer than six children (AOR=1.3, 95% CI, 1.1, 2.0), and being told about pregnancy complications (AOR=2.2, 95%CI, 1.7, 2.7) were factors positively associated with utlilization of immediate postnatal care. Conclusion: Prevalence of immediate postnatal care utilization is still low in Ethiopia. Awareness should be created about immediate postnatal care utilization through the efforts of health extension workers. In addition, the Ethiopian government should design strategies to enhance the socio-economic status of women. Beside these, information about postnatal care and its benefit is critical and can be transmitted through mass media.