Cross-Sectional Study of Mothers' Perception of Postpartum Visit Benefit by Rural Status

Area of Science:

• Maternal Health
• Public Health
• Rural Health

Background:

• The postpartum period presents significant risks for maternal mortality and morbidity, disproportionately affecting rural populations.
• Understanding the perceived value of postpartum visits is crucial for improving maternal care outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the perceived benefits of postpartum visits between mothers residing in rural and non-rural counties.
• To identify specific areas where rural mothers experienced greater or lesser benefits from postpartum care.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 91 postpartum mothers in north-central Florida who completed an online survey.
• Statistical analyses, including Mann-Whitney U and Fisher's exact tests, were used to compare rural and non-rural groups.
• Inclusion criteria: age ≥18, healthy full-term singleton infant born within the past year.

Main Results:

• Rural participants reported significantly higher perceived benefits regarding information on health services (p=0.02) and physical health (p=0.01).
• Attendance rates were high in both groups (93.8% rural, 97.2% non-rural), but rural mothers perceived greater overall value.
• Differences in perceived benefits for mood changes were not statistically significant (p=0.14).

Conclusions:

• Rural postpartum mothers perceive greater benefits from postpartum visits, particularly concerning health information and physical well-being.
• The findings underscore the importance of optimizing postpartum care models to address the unique needs of rural mothers.
• Further research is needed to explore barriers and facilitators influencing postpartum care access and utilization in rural versus non-rural settings.