Abstract provided by author; In Namibia a comprehensive health care approach is practised and motivated by health care delivery institutions. Part of the comprehensive health care approach is promotion of health in maternal and child health care. Maternal and child health care include women's health, antenatal care, delivery, postnatal care, and care for the baby. The focus of this study is on postnatal care for mother and baby. The postnatal (post-delivery) period is a medical term for the period following childbirth during which body tissues, in particular the genital and pelvic organs of the mother, return to the condition they were pre-pregnancy; Postnatal care services are provided for mother and baby and mothers should utilise it to ensure that their health and that of the baby is maintained. In spite of the availability of postnatal services in the Grootfontein health district women do not utilise them; Thus, the overall aim of the study is to explore and describe factors that influence the utilisation of postnatal care services in the Grootfontein health district. To achieve this aim an explorative, descriptive, quantitative and comparative design was used. Data were collected from 291 respondents over a period of six weeks, through an interview by using a structured questionnaire, and with the assistance of a research assistant. The selected sample included 219 women who did not attend postnatal clinics - the case group - and 72 who did attend postnatal clinics - the control group; Data were analysed using statistical procedures to test the significance of relationships between variables of the two groups. Answers to open-ended questions were grouped and presented in frequencies. Ethical principles were adhered to throughout the study; It was concluded that the most important reason why mothers do not utilise postnatal care services, specifically the postnatal clinic, is that they have no information about the need to attend post natal care. Recommendations were made to address the shortcomings that were indicated by the study. The main shortcoming is that a lot of women have no information about the need to attend post natal care clinics. Advisors/Committee Members: (advisor), (advisor).