Perceived Quality of Antenatal Care Service by Pregnant Women in Public and Private Health Facilities in Northern Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Quality of Antenatal care is potentially one of the most effective health intervention for preventing maternal morbidity and mortality particularly in places where the general health status of women is poor. Improving quality of health care is one of the strategies in Health sector development program IV (HSDP IV) of Ethiopia. However, there are limited studies on quality of antenatal coverage in Ethiopia including the study area. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the perceived quality of Antenatal care of pregnant women in public and private health facilities in Tigray, Northern Ethiopia. Methods: Health institution based cross sectional study was conducted from February to May, 2013 in Tigray region among 526 pregnant women attending Antenatal care clinic. Participants were selected using multi-stage sampling technique first health facility were selected using lottery method then pregnant women from each selected facility were selected using systematic sampling method according to the flow pregnant women to the ANC clinics. Data were entered and cleaned using EPI-info version 3.5.1 and analysis was performed by SPSS version 20. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to calculate odd ratio with 95% confidence level. Statistical association between the dependent and independent variables was ascertained at p-value less than 0.05. Results: The prevalence of overall perceived quality of ANC was 24.5%. Factors like women aged between 26 and 35 years [AOR=0.58(0.38-0.88)], governmental institution ANC attendance [AOR=0.52(0.33-0.83)], own income [AOR=0.61(0.40-0.92)], one to three ANC attendance [AOR=0.31(0.18-0.54)], testing for HIV [AOR=0.12(0.06-0.24)] causes less likely to perceived that getting high quality ANC service however, waiting time greater than one hour [AOR=3.42(1.61-7.28)] is positively associated with mother perception toward getting high quality ANC service. Conclusions: This study revealed that the perceived quality of ANC is very poor. Therefore, urgent action is mandatory to improve the quality ANC service by providing women centered approaches in giving care, in-service training to health care providers on quality practices.