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Tao, Fangbiao, Huang, Kun, Long, Xiang, Tolhurst, Rachel 
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3005-6641 and Raven, Joanna ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4112-6959
(2011)
'Low postnatal care rates in two rural counties in Anhui Province, China: Perceptions of key stakeholders'. Midwifery, Vol 27, Issue 5, pp. 707-715.
Abstract
Objective
to explore the perceptions of stakeholders on postnatal care and to describe the rate of postnatal home visits in two rural counties in Anhui Province, China.
Design
this was a mixed methods study which uses mainly qualitative methods including focus group discussions, in- depth interviews and key informant interviews. A household survey of postpartum women was used to calculate the rates of postnatal home visits.
Setting
two rural counties in Anhui Province, China.
Participants
qualitative study participants: officials responsible for maternal health care at county level, health providers at township and village level and maternal health-care users. Household survey participants: 2326 women who gave birth in the two counties from January 2005 to December 2006.
Findings
the survey of postpartum women revealed that only 4.2% and 4.5% of women received one or more postnatal visits at home in County A and County B. Qualitative interviews revealed a range of perceived reasons for this low rate of provision and utilisation of postnatal care, including: inadequate funding for maternal health care; limited human resources; lack of transport in township hospitals; and limited value placed on postnatal care by women and providers. In addition, where services were provided, a number of factors were likely to restrict health providers from delivering high-quality postnatal health service, such as: weak skills and knowledge of staff; inadequate in-service training; lack of equipment in township hospitals; and poor supervision and monitoring.
Key conclusions
the rate of postnatal visits was extremely low in two counties in rural China. Understaffing and inadequate funding are the main factors that affect provision of postnatal health care.
Implications for practice
more emphasis should be attached to political support and funding for postnatal care. Research into feasible ways to provide quality postnatal care needs to be conducted
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Postnatal care; Quality of care; Health seeking behaviour; Utilisation |
| Subjects: | WA Public Health > WA 100 General works WA Public Health > Health Problems of Special Population Groups > WA 309 Women's health WA Public Health > Health Problems of Special Population Groups > WA 310 Maternal welfare WA Public Health > Health Problems of Special Population Groups > WA 395 Health in developing countries WQ Obstetrics > WQ 20 Research (General) WQ Obstetrics > WQ 500 Postnatal care |
| Digital Object Identifer (DOI): | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.midw.2009.10.001 |
| Depositing User: | Faye Moody |
| Date Deposited: | 03 Apr 2012 08:57 |
| Last Modified: | 25 Jan 2022 09:53 |
| URI: | https://archive.lstmed.ac.uk/id/eprint/2824 |
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