Determinants of Postnatal Care (PNC) Knowledge and Perceptions among Women Utilizing PNC and Antenatal Care Services in the Oshana region, Namibia.

Background:  Postnatal care (PNC) knowledge and positive perceptions are crucial for women's utilisation of PNC services.

Aim:  The study aimed to assess the level of PNC knowledge, perceptions of PNC, and determinants of both among women.

Setting:  Public healthcare facilities in the Oshana region, Namibia.

Methods:  The study followed a quantitative cross-sectional survey design. A self-administered questionnaire was administered to 814 participants selected via systematic random sampling. PNC knowledge and perceptions were used separately as dependent variables. Participants' characteristics were used as independent variables. Chi-square tests and binomial and multinomial logistic regression were used to analyse associations between PNC knowledge or perceptions and participants' characteristics.

Results:  Among the participants, 55.6% (n = 434) demonstrated good PNC knowledge, while 27.3% (n = 213) had positive PNC perceptions. Participants who had no formal education, were unemployed, and did not utilise PNC services had a lower likelihood of having good PNC knowledge; adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 0.33, 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.21-0.53, crude odds ratio (COR) = 0.68, 95% CI, 0.49-0.92; and AOR = 0.72, 95% CI, 0.52-0.98. Similarly, women who did not attend antenatal care had a lower likelihood of having positive PNC perceptions; COR = 0.56, 95% CI, 0.33-0.96.

Conclusion:  There is a need for multipronged interventions to improve PNC knowledge and perceptions among women in the Oshana region.Contribution: This study identified context-specific factors that influence women's PNC knowledge and perceptions.