Postnatal Care Visit and Its Determinants Among Mothers in Chitwan, Nepal: A Mixed-Method Study

BACKGROUND: Postnatal care for six weeks after giving birth is vital for the health of both mother and newborn. The postnatal period is dangerous for both mother and baby, where morbidity and mortality are highly prevalent if proper care is not done. PNC visits should be more noticed, creating a missing link towards safe motherhood. This research examines the social and cultural influences that affect postnatal care practices among mothers with infants under one. METHOD: This study utilized a combination of methods, primarily emphasizing quantitative techniques. It was conducted in Madi, Rapti, and Ratnanagar municipalities in Chitwan, utilizing a cluster random sampling technique. Data was gathered through 527 face-to-face interviews utilizing a structured questionnaire for quantitative data, six focus group discussions and three key informant interviews for qualitative data. The quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed using logistic regression and by the thematic content analysis method, respectively. The statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS version 21. RESULT: Based on the study's findings, it was revealed that most participants surveyed were between the ages of 20 and 24 and engaged in household and agricultural work. Of the 527 respondents, 79.1% were aware of partial postnatal visits, only 20.9% knew about complete postnatal visits, and 11.8% reported practicing PNC visits. Our analysis, which employed binary logistic regression, uncovered that social and cultural factors significantly impacted postnatal care visits and practices. The most influential factors for PNC visits and practices were occupation, antenatal care visits, mode of delivery, time to reach healthcare facilities and healthcare-seeking behavior. Qualitative data was also collected through FGD and IDIs to support our quantitative data, and both analyses indicated that social and cultural factors influence postnatal care visits among mothers. CONCLUSION: Fewer mothers reported about aware and complete Postnatal care visit. The major confounding factors for PNC visits and practices were occupation, antenatal care visits, mode of delivery, time to reach health facilities, and healthcare-seeking behaviour. It is essential to involve both traditional and religious leaders to address these issues effectively. Local health organizations should conduct postnatal care visits by going door-to-door to identify and manage problems. Key words: Postnatal Care, Visit, Mother, Social, Cultural, Factors, Nepal