Factors associated with postnatal care service utilization: a retrospective cohort study among mothers aged 13-49 years at a mid- level health care facility in Eastern-Uganda

Introduction: Poor utilization of postnatal care (PNC) services hinders the identification and management of adverse postpartum conditions which jeopardizes the health and wellbeing of mothers and their newborns. The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of PNC utilization and its associated factors among mothers aged 13–49 years at a health facility in Eastern Uganda. Methodology: The study employed a retrospective cohort study design. Using the Kish Leslie formula, 357 mothers were assessed. Data was collected through reviewing labour suit and PNC registers. Data was entered in the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 23 where statistical tests such as chi squares and regression analysis were run. Statistical significance was considered at p < 0.05. Ethical approval was obtained from the research ethics committee of Uganda Martyrs University. Other ethical principles like informed consent, anonymity were accordingly upheld. Results Of the assessed women, only 75/357 (21.0%) fully utilized postnatal care services. The utilisation of postnatal care services was not significantly associated with any of the individual factors among the assessed women (p > 0.05). Receiving other forms of care besides bleeding management, blood pressure monitoring and nutrition counselling was protective AOR = 0.34, [CI: 0.12–0.96], p = 0.042 against not utilizing postnatal care services. Receiving other treatments for complications besides the routine oxytocin increased the likelihood of postnatal care service utilization by 17 times AOR = 17.43, [CI: 3.49–87.10], p < 0.001. Conclusion and recommendation: The utilisation of postnatal care services among women in Buyinja Health center IV was very low. Uptake of PNC services depended on type of treatment administered, receiving other forms of care and other treatments for complications. Awareness creation, increased investments in health facilities and establishment of stronger follow up mechanisms could mitigate the low postnatal care utilization among women in Buyinja Health center IV.