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. 2024 Dec 28;14(1):31300.
doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-82750-8.

Factors influencing early postnatal care use among postpartum women in Afghanistan

Essa Tawfiq  1 , Muhammad Haroon Stanikzai  2 , Abdul Wahed Wasiq  3 , Omid Dadras  4
Affiliations

Factors influencing early postnatal care use among postpartum women in Afghanistan

Essa Tawfiq et al. Sci Rep. .

Abstract

Using postnatal care (PNC) within the first week following childbirth is crucial, as both the mother and her baby are particularly vulnerable to infections and mortality during this period. In this study, we examined the factors associated with early postnatal care (EPNC) use in Afghanistan. We used data from the multiple indicator cluster survey (MICS) 2022-2023. The study population was ever-married women who delivered a live child during their recent pregnancy within the 2 years preceding MICS 2022-23. The outcome was EPNC and defined as the first check of the mother within the first week of delivery. A binary logistic regression was used, and odds ratio (OR) and 95% CI were obtained. Out of 12,578 women, 16.0% received EPNC. EPNC was lower in women who delivered at home [AOR 0.35 (95% CI 0.28-0.44)] compared with women who delivered at public clinics. EPNC was higher in women with ≥ 4 antenatal care (ANC) visits [1.29 (1.02-162)], in women in the highest quintile of wealth status [1.70 (1.25-2.32)], and in women with access to radio [1.76 (1.45-2.15)]. EPNC use among Afghan women remains low (16.0%). Key factors associated with ENPC utilization include place of delivery, ANC utilization, wealth status, and radio access.

Keywords: Afghanistan; Early postnatal; Late postnatal; Maternal health; PNC; Postnatal care.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests. Ethical approval: The study was reviewed by the Research and Ethics Committee, Faculty of Medicine, Kandahar University, Afghanistan. The committee waived the ethical approval because secondary data from the Afghanistan MICS 2022–2023 were used and analysed in this study.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Final sample size and schematic presentation of the sample selection.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Conceptual framework for factors associated with utilization of EPNC.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
First check of the mother within the first week of childbirth (n = 12,578).
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
First check of the mother within the first week of childbirth, by healthcare provider type (2148).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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