Postpartum health among rural Zambian women

Health problems after childbirth have received little attention compared to maternal morbidity in the antenatal period and during labour. We conducted a hospital-based study to investigate postpartum health problems in rural Zambian women. Health problems are very common: 84% of the 620 study participants reported at least one health problem. The majority of women who experienced a health problem took action to relieve the complaint. High vaginal swabs were used to diagnose a genital tract infection. Seventeen per cent of the swabs were abnormal; most women with abnormal result showed no symptoms of genital tract infection. Ninety three per cent of women with symptoms suggestive of a genital tract infection did not seek medical attention. Further research is needed to estimate the impact of self-reported health problems on women's daily lives. Women should be educated on specific conditions that require medical care. More information is also needed on the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections in antenatal and postpartum women including the feasibility of mass screening and treatment in this group of women.