Maternal Knowledge and Patterns of Postnatal Care Utilization: Coverage, Timing, and Completion in Primary Health Facilities in Ondo State, Nigeria

Background: Postnatal care (PNC) is essential for maternal and newborn health, but coverage alone may conceal delayed and incomplete follow-up. This study assessed maternal knowledge and patterns of PNC utilization in Ondo State, Nigeria.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 330 mothers who delivered within the preceding 12 months was conducted in six Local Government Areas using multistage and systematic random sampling. Data were collected with an interviewer-administered structured questionnaire, including a 22-item PNC knowledge scale. Descriptive statistics, chi-square, Mann-Whitney U test, and multivariable binary logistic regression were performed in SPSS version 26.

Postnatal care; maternal knowledge; PNC utilization; timing

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