Barriers and enablers to postnatal care utilization in the Oshana Region of Namibia : a qualitative study

Abstract

BACKGROUND : Postnatal care (PNC) service utilization remains low in Namibia, including in the Oshana region, with only 20% of newborn babies accessing them within two days of delivery in 2021, which is much lower than the 69% of mothers nationwide who utilized PNC services. As low PNC utilization is linked to high maternal and child morbidity and mortality, this study aimed to explore the barriers and enablers of PNC utilization among women in the Oshana region of Namibia. METHODS : A descriptive qualitative design within an explanatory sequential mixed methods design was used. 13 female participants were recruited from the Oshana region's public healthcare facilities through purposive sampling with maximum variation. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, and the data was analyzed thematically. RESULTS : Six themes and 15 subthemes emerged from the barriers, while five themes and 11 subthemes emerged from the enabling factors. Themes related to barriers and enablers included personal, household, community, cultural, health system, and economic factors. CONCLUSION : A comprehensive approach is needed to improve PNC utilization. This includes enhancing PNC knowledge, increasing healthcare accessibility, addressing gender norms and cultural beliefs, and improving the quality of PNC services.