Postnatal Care Practices Among Mothers In Three Rural Communities Of Yakurr Lga Of Crossriverstate

ABSTRACT

Reports show that most maternal deaths occur during the post natal period, yet this is when coverage

and programmes of maternal and child health are at their lowest along the continuum of care

in the local government, state, country and African region at large. Therefore it is important

to investigate postnatal care practices carried out by mothers to reduce the trend. The aim of

this is study was to assess postnatal care practices with respect to, perineal wound care,

breast-feeding, nutrition, the management of vaginal loss and Personal hygiene practices of

mothers.

The study was descriptive non-experimental cross sectional design. Purposive sampling

technique was used to select two hundred and seven nursing mothers who met the inclusion

criteria and gave their consent to participate in the study. A self-developed structured

questionnaire was used to collect data. Data was analyzed using Chi-square tested at 0.05

level of significance. Result was presented using descriptive statistics, averages and

percentages.

The result revealed that majority (82.1%) of the respondents delivered out of health facility

and 61.8% sustained tear. 52.8% of the respondents accepted that they were taught how to

take care of the wound daily using sitz bath and 38.7% of them were taught that wounds

should be kept clean. Majority of the respondents (74.5%) cared for the wound at home by

cleaning the area with hot water only while 11.3% respondents cared for the wound daily

using sitz bath, 10.4% respondents applied ointments and 2.8% respondents applied herbs.

Most of the respondents (70.0%) started breastfeeding immediately after delivery and gave

the first yellowish fluid to their baby after birth while (30%) gave the yellowish fluid six

hours after birth. When breast milk was not enough 73.9% respondents gave water to their

babies and 60.9% respondents drank palm wine to stimulate breast milk. Majority of the

respondents (70.0%) had particular food they ate after delivery such as hot pepper soup with

rice or yam, tea with milk and pounded yam/garri with vegetable soup. Most of the

respondents (71.0%) took fruits and vegetables after delivery, but some of the respondents

(56.4%) took them from the fourth day after delivery and (29.0%) did not take fruits and

vegetables for reasons that it was not presented to them and (16.7%) said it purges them.

31.4% of the total respondents had heavy bleeding; to stop the bleeding, (15.4%) respondents

drank palm oil, 24.6% took herbs, while 26.2% were given injection. Majority of the

respondents (60.4%) took their bath twice a day and 58.0% changed their pads twice a day. A

total of 46.6% of the respondents met the World Health Organization (WHO) standard of best

practices. Place of delivery was a significant factor (p < 0.05) influencing perineal wound

care practices. Respondents’ occupation influenced their feeding practices (p < 0.05). There

was a significant variation (p < 0.05) in the management of vaginal loss among the various

communities. Personal hygiene practices and socioeconomic status was only significant (p