Background: Postnatal care (PNC) is considered a challenge, fulfilling very important needs of two very vulnerable individuals namely the puerperal woman and the neonate. Improving the service quality provided during this period is considered as the most important intervention for preventing maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. However less is known about the utilization of postnatal care. The objectives of the study are to identify the possible predictors characterize women utilizing PNC among rural Egyptian women, assess the quality of PNC services offered women, identify possible barriers contributed to under utilization of PNC services in rural health units and explore the health care providers’ perspectives for enhancing PNC utilization. Methods: The study is an exploratory study that was conducted in 3 randomly selected PHC units in Shebien el Kanater, Qaliobia, Egypt using quantitative data: the total sample size was accounted for 600 women. A structured interview questionnaire was designed to collect data from the mothers regarding socio-demographic data, maternal history, pattern of antenatal care (ANC) / natal care (NC) and pattern of PNC utilization. This interview last for 25 to 30 minutes. Qualitative component: Eight in-depth interviews were conducted with health care providers including Traditional birth attendants and Raeda Riffias (rural health workers/visitors). Eight focus group discussions were also conducted with women who had babies younger than one year. The discussion guide included information about importance of postnatal care, barriers to utilization and suggestions for improvement. Results: the study showed that the Mean age at marriage 19.8±2.9. Only 34.2% of sampled women were examined late within the 40 days following delivery. From neonates, 80% were examined postnatal for the first time at the first month of life. Women who received ANC in their last pregnancy were (80.5%). (81.2%) of women delivered vaginal while only (17.6%) by caesarean section. home deliveries which are still present (15.8%). About 81% delivered at a health facility. More than half of women received PNC home visit only once. Shortages of skilled staff, equipment and supplies maltreatment of HCPs and PHC unit employees, inadequate quality of services provided, crowdedness and absence of standard protocol including all components of PNC services for mothers and their babies were common complaints in the community. In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, the following predictors were significantly associated with the utilization of PNC: Income (P value =0.001), utilization of ANC (P value =0.000) and delivery place (P value =0.02). Conclusion and Recommendations: only 34.2% of women were examined late within the 42 days following delivery. The possible predictors related to PNC utilization were family income, utilization of ANC services and the place of delivery. Fair quality of PNC services offered to babies but on the other hand bad quality of PNC services provided to rural Egyptian women. Raising awareness of mothers by seminars presented by nurses or health visitors discussing importance of PNC services and consequences of not receiving it on both mother and child health. Policymakers should consider delivering PNC services at both health facilities and at home to overcome financial, geographical and cultural barriers during the postnatal period.

The operating room (OR) environment is surrounded by many hazards that include physical, chemical, and biological hazards. These potential hazards might endanger the safety of both patients and OR personnel (nurses, anesthesiologists, surgeons, workers, etc). However, these hazards can be preventable if they are identified and correctly dealt with. The aim of the present study is to assess the potential hazards in the OR, the study also proposed guidelines for safety practices in the OR. In order to achieve these aims, a total of 115 general surgeries were assessed and observed by the investigator as regarding to environmental safety issues and the OR personnel aseptic practices during surgeries using the OR Safety Assessment Tool (B). In addition to the general assessment of OR environment which assessed once using the OR Safety Assessment Tool (A). The result of the data analysis revealed deficiency regarding to the OR suitable environment and regarding to the OR personnel safe practices application during the 115 observed surgeries. The result showed also that the OR personnel had poor compliance with the OR attire and with following specific important OR aseptic practice that indicate the need for establishing OR written policies and procedures that has to be available to OR personnel, reviewed annually, and adhere with. The study concluded that, there is possible risk for patient and OR personnel working in the study setting. Based on these findings, the present study provided recommended guidelines for patients and personnel safety in the operating room.