Factors influencing the perceived postpartum health status of mothers in fishing households of rural Leyte

• Main Author: Lanugan, Wrechelle Braga
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2006
• Subjects: Mothers > Leyte > Philippines; Mothers; Post partum period; Puerperium; Postpartum period; Public Health; Women's Health
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_masteral/3554; https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/context/etd_masteral/article/10392/viewcontent/CDTG004337_P__1_.pdf
• Institution: De La Salle University

This study is descriptive in nature. It aims to determine the factors that influence the perceived postpartum health status of 50 mothers in fishing households of rural Leyte. Specifically, it seeks to find out the mothers’ personal characteristics, postpartum health practices and problems and their postpartum health services utilization. The data were gathered using a survey instrument. A simple random sampling technique was employed in the selection of respondents. Included in this study were mothers ages 15-49, with at least 2 children, whose last child is equal to or less than 12 months at the time of the interview, and whose husband’s primary source of income is fishing. Results showed that mothers of fishing households have a mean age of32.68, with less education attained, with a monthly household income below 4,000 pesos, with more than three children and majority has on no account used contraceptives. Additional findings revealed that majority of the mothers have never undergone postpartum check-ups and have not consulted for health services in health facilities after last delivery. Many mothers are not practicing postpartum family planning. Moreover, majority of the mothers practiced breastfeeding. The findings also revealed that mothers of fishing households have reasonably poor hygiene practices due to observance of water restrictions. They also have fairly poor nutrition and vitamin or supplement intake. Majority of the mothers complained to have felt or suffered health problems. Hitherto, notwithstanding these complex factors, mothers of fishing households perceived their postpartum health status as “good”, which is rather unfavorable to the present findings. The study further recommended practical inputs for the improvement of material health in the fishing village and provides crucial suggestions for future research studies.