Utilization of Recommended Postnatal Care Services in Baglung District: Barriers, Facilitators, and Implications for Safe Motherhood Programs—A Cross-sectional Study

Postnatal care (PNC) is a critical component in reducing maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality, particularly during the first 48 hours after childbirth. Despite ongoing efforts by the Government of Nepal (GoN), only 27% of mothers completed the recommended four PNC visits in Fiscal Year 2079/80, in Gandaki Province. This cross-sectional study aimed to identify the facilitators and barriers to the uptake of recommended revised PNC services in Baglung District, Nepal. Data were collected in January 2024 from 219 women who recently delivered baby within one year period of time in two randomly selected rural/municipalities using multistage cluster sampling. The study found that 99% of respondents delivered in health facilities, and 99% received at least one PNC checkup. However, only 52 women (24%) adhered to the full PNC protocol of at least four visits, aligning with national averages ie 26.5% in 2079/80. Notably, 1% of deliveries still occurred at home, all within the Tamankhola rural municipality. Although health facilities provided immediate PNC, post-delivery stays were often brief, with many women leaving within hours. Nearly 47% of respondents lived over 30 minutes from the nearest health facility, and only 72% completed eight or more antenatal care (ANC) visits as recommended. Bivariate analysis showed no significant association between PNC utilization and variables such as type or place of delivery. However, a significant finding emerged regarding mobile phone ownership: women who owned mobile phones were 0.2 times less likely to complete recommended PNC visits compared to non-owners, though this may be due to the small number of non-phone users (n=8). Other factors such as geographic distance, postnatal follow-up and counseling by health workers, and FCHV contact may have influenced service uptake among non-phone users. These findings shows the need for targeted, locally responsive interventions within the Safe Motherhood Program to address gaps in postnatal care adherence and improve maternal and newborn outcomes in rural Nepal.