Factors Influencing Postnatal Monitoring in the Bafang Health District (West Region-Cameroon)

Background: Maternal health remains today, one of the major public health concerns in developing countries. Maternal deaths and newborn deaths usually occur within 48 hours of delivery. In Cameroon, despite all the initiatives set up by the Ministry of Public Health to reduce the mortality rate, the situation remains alarming in terms of postnatal consultation; this is much more felt in the West region of Cameroon, which is one of the most affected regions because 43.1% of women who give birth in hospitals do not return to postnatal consultation and this rate is higher than the national average with a value of 21.5%. Objective:This work aims to determine the factors influencing postnatal follow-up in the Bafang Health District. Methodology: This is a cross-sectional descriptive study for analytical purposes, carried out in the Bafang Health District between January 1 to November 30, 2017. Our study population consisted of all women of childbearing age living in the Bafang Health District during the study period. The variables studied were sociodemographic characteristics, socio-cultural characteristics and the provision of care. Results: Analysis carried out during this study, it appears that, the person who informs the women on the dates of rendez-vous during the CPoN (OR = 2.92; [95%CI = 1.16-7,]; p-value = 0.02), women who think the appropriate period of postnatal follow-up is 6 weeks postpartum (OR = 4.27, [95%CI = 1.47-12.39], p-value = 0.00 ) and those who massage the abdomen after childbirth (OR = 2.62, [95%CI = 1.34 - 5.12], p-value = 0.00) are more likely to have knowledge about follow-up postnatal. While women who have no knowledge of postnatal follow-up (OR = 0.18, 95%CI = 0.07-0.45, p-value = 0.00) are less likely to have more knowledge. Conclusion: Lack of knowledge of the existence and importance of postnatal consultation (CPoN), traditional practices are the factors that influence postnatal follow-up in the Bafang Health District. A good and effective care for women after childbirth requires increased awareness campaigns at the hospital level as well as in community settings.