Factors related to antenatal, delivery and postnatal health care among female clients of reproductive health mobile services, Suburban Yangon, Myanmar

Abstract

The objective of the study was to investigate factors related to the practice of antenatal, delivery and postnatal care among reproductive age women (15-49 years) in six suburb townships of Yangon division, Myanmar where UNFPA/MMA reproductive health mobile services are available. Methodology: cross sectional survey of 385 women using interviewer administered questionnaire. All women attending the mobile services, meeting inclusion criteria and willing to participate were interviewed till the sample size was reached. Descriptive and inferential statistical analysis by chi-square test and logistic regression was used. Results showed high prevalence of at risk pregnancies: teenage (5%) and late age pregnancy (19%), illiterate (13.8%), lowest income group <100,000 kyats per month (71.4%), correct belief of natural healing of umbilical stamp wound (26.5%), correct beliefs of colostrum breastfeeding to baby is nutritious (94%). Multivariable analysis showed the following highly significant associations (p<0.005). 1. Number of children, provider of ANC related beliefs, access to information with four or more ANC visits. 2. Education of women, source of delivery related beliefs, delivery cost with institutional delivery by skilled birth attendant. 3. Source of postnatal related beliefs, access to information, age of women, postnatal beliefs (the latter two at p<0.05) with six or more postnatal visits. Recommendations: provide effective reproductive health information to all women in particular to teenage and late age pregnant women, standardization of umbilical wound care and counselling on harmful postnatal beliefs.