WOMEN'S PERCEPTIONS ABOUT QUALITY OF MATERNITY CARE AT TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL KARACHI, PAKISTAN

Abstract

Background: Each day, around 800 women deaths occur worldwide from preventable causes related to childbirth and pregnancy. Pakistan is one of the countries with a high share of this burden. The Pakistan Demographic Health Survey 2006-7 estimates for maternal mortality ratio was 276 per 100,000. The study is aimed to establish women's perceptions about quality of maternity care in Tertiary care hospital, Karachi, Pakistan. Methods: A cross sectional mixed method study conducted including 100 post delivered women in the obstetrical ward at tertiary care Karachi, Pakistan. A pre-structured questionnaire was used to collect both qualitative and quantitative data. Participants were interviewed after taking the written consent. Both qualitative and quantitative findings were triangulated and analyzed as per objective. Results: Overall incidence of disrespect is 56.5%, more than 52.0% participants subjectively reported feeling humiliated. 40% percent of the respondents assumed the impolite behavior and rude facial expression of health professional during conversation. Most of the participants said about low quality of care, disrespectful and abusive care at labour room however some of them were optimistic about maternal care in the hospital. Conclusion: The study concluded that disrespect and physical abuse was common barrier to utilization of services that ultimately effecting on the quality at the tertiary health care facility.