Early Postnatal Care Utilization and associated factors among mothers in Kochore District, Southern Ethiopia

Background: In less developed countries, a significant number of deaths involving mothers and newborns take place in the first 48 hours following delivery. Despite the fact that early postnatal care is crucial for treating issues that may arise from childbirth for both women and children, Ethiopians did not use this service very often. This study's objective was to assess the use of early postnatal care and related variables by mothers who gave birth in Kochore District, Southern Ethiopia, within the previous 12 months. Method A cross-sectional study in the community was conducted from February 15 to August 59, 2018. Five hundred nine research participants were chosen using a multistage sampling procedure, and data were gathered through in-person interviews using a standardised questionnaire. Blogistic regression were used. Result The magnitude of early postnatal care utilization (EPNC) was 33.2% (95% CI: 29.1–37.5). Average monthly income of the households (AOR: 7.37; 95% CI: 1.98, 27.48), husbands’ occupation, (AOR: 5.13; 95% CI: 1.78, 14.77), knowledge on at least one use of early postnatal care and postpartum danger-signs (AOR = 5.260; 95% CI: 1.990, 13.903), pregnancy related complication (AOR: 0.40; 95% CI: 0.18, 0.93) and place of delivery (AOR: 18.724; 95% CI: 10.473, 33.474) were found to be predictors of EPNC service utilization. Conclusion The proportion of early postnatal care service utilization was very low compared with other studies in Ethiopia. Average monthly income, husbands’ occupation, knowledge on the importance of the service and postpartum danger-signs, pregnancy related complication, and place of delivery were statistically significant for early postnatal care utilization. Working on employment opportunity, strengthening the provision of information and behavioral change communication needs to be emphasized.