Understanding maternal postpartum needs: A descriptive survey of current maternal health services

Abstract

Aim and objective: To assess mothers' learning needs and concerns after giving birth and to examine whether these needs were met at 6-8 weeks postpartum.

Background: Women experience many physiologic and psychological changes during postpartum period, which is considered a vital transitional time. Exploring and meeting women's needs help woman to pass this period with little complications and enhance healthcare provider's ability to provide appropriate care following childbirth.

Design: A prospective cohort design was employed in this study.

Methods: A prospective cohort design was employed. A convenience sample of 150 postpartum women have completed perceived leaning needs scale prior to hospital discharge, at southern region of Jordan, and have completed perceived met learning needs scale at 6-8 weeks after giving birth.

Results: Women reported a high level of concern across all eight learning needs subscales. The most common concerns were related to new baby care, episiotomy care and breastfeeding. At 6-8 weeks postpartum, the primary unmet learning needs postpartum were danger signs post-Caesarean section, physical changes, breastfeeding and new baby care. Attending postpartum check-up clinic was found as a significant predictor for postpartum meeting women's needs, particularly emotional changes and family planning-related information.

Conclusions: The current maternal health services are not at the optimum level to meet women's individual needs and concerns, which could increase the risk for postpartum complications. Some women's characteristics, such as employment status and educational level, have increased women's concerns and unmet needs in some of the learning needs.

Relevance to clinical practice: Healthcare providers and policymakers should consider women's concerns and needs at early postpartum period to establish patient-centred postpartum care that is based on women's needs and concerns during this transitional period, with a focus on newborn baby care, episiotomy care and breastfeeding.

Keywords: Jordan; meeting postpartum needs/concerns; postpartum; women's perceived learning needs.