Barriers to the Utilization of Postnatal Care Services Among Postpartum Women in Pastoralist Settlements

African Journal of Nursing and Midwifery | Vol. 14, No. 9, September 2026 | pp. 289–297

DOI: 10.46882/2026/AJNM/000164

Original Research Article

Title: Barriers to the Utilization of Postnatal Care Services Among Postpartum Women in Pastoralist Settlements

Names of Authors: Chipo P. Mutasa¹, Daniel O. Mwamba²

Authors’ Affiliations:
¹Department of Nursing Science, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe
²School of Health Sciences, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Abstract:
The early postpartum period is a critically vulnerable window for maternal and infant health, yet postnatal care (PNC) utilization remains dangerously neglected within pastoralist demographics. This mixed-methods study investigated the institutional, structural, and cultural barriers that limit PNC attendance among nomadic women within remote regions. Quantitative data were gathered via a structured survey of 150 postpartum women, while qualitative data were extracted from six focus group discussions. The quantitative assessment showed that only 24.6% of the mothers returned to a healthcare clinic for the critical 6-week postnatal assessment. Multivariable logistic regression demonstrated that nomadic movement over long physical distances exceeding 10.0 km from static community health centers (AOR = 3.45, 95% CI: 1.84–6.42, p < 0.001) and absolute traditional requirements for postpartum maternal seclusion (AOR = 2.81, 95% CI: 1.32–5.54, p = 0.003) significantly reduced service uptake. Qualitative feedback underscored an absolute lack of trust in clinic services that failed to incorporate local newborn rituals safely. Expanding clinical postnatal safety to remote settings requires deploying mobile midwifery tracking squads and re-engineering clinic settings to incorporate traditional postpartum birth practices.

Keywords: Postnatal Care; Service Utilization; Pastoralist Communities; Maternal Health; Structural Barriers; Cultural Seclusion.

Manuscript Timeline: Received August 10, 2026; Revised September 18, 2026; Accepted September 27, 2026; Published September 30, 2026.

Citation: Mutasa, C. P., & Mwamba, D. O. (2026). Barriers to the Utilization of Postnatal Care Services Among Postpartum Women in Pastoralist Settlements. African Journal of Nursing and Midwifery, 14(9), 289–297. DOI: 10.46882/2026/AJNM/000164

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