Maternal Satisfaction and Associated Factors on Delivery Care Service in Hawassa City Public Hospitals, South Ethiopia

Abstract

Introduction According to Ethiopian demographic and health surveys (EDHS) 2016, institutional delivery was 26%, maternal mortality ratio 412/100,000 live births, and under five mortality rate 67/1000 live births, which were among the highest in Sub-Saharan African Countries [1]. Patient satisfaction is the extent in which the health care needs, and expectations, goals, and or preferences are met by the health care providers and or service of the patients are meeting [2,3]. Patient satisfaction has benefit for both patients and health care providers [2]. Quality of health care service has a potential to strengthen self-confidence and trust to each other. Low quality of health care service, may answer low utilization of health care service [4,5]. Even though, Childbirth is a one-day event, experience lasts lifelong and is shared with others [6]. Women's memory of childbirth experiences stay with them for a lifetime and are often shared with other women, contributing to a climate of confidence or doubt around childbearing [7]. Negative experience during childbirth increase risks of postpartum depression, and may negatively affect mothers' attitude on the future pregnancy and choice place of delivery [8]. Some researcher's measure satisfaction by quality of health care; meanwhile others measure health system in general [9]. Dimensions of satisfaction are not important whether the patient is right or wrong, but what is important is how the patient felt [10]. Patient satisfaction is a reflection of patients' judgment on different domain of health care, including art of care (caring attitude), technical quality of care, accessibility and convenience, finance (ability to pay for service), physical environment, an availability, continuity of care, efficacy, and outcome of care [11]. High quality maternal care should continue from the pre pregnancy to the postpartum period, and in which clients and health care providers are partners in the care provision [12]. Dissatisfaction with the health system affects health-seeking behaviour and continues to make accessing health services impractical or impossible [13]. Dissatisfaction of services at public facilities lead to underutilization of service and this trend tend to continue, while at the same time patients expend unnecessary costs due to self-referral to expensive centres [14]. Despite having many studies done elsewhere, there is paucity of data concerning mother's satisfaction with childbirth services in referral hospitals in Ethiopia. This study aimed to assess client satisfaction and associated factors at public health hospitals in Hawassa city. Methods Study design and setting A hospital-based cross sectional study was done from December to Abstract Introduction: Childbirth is one-day event but the experience lasts lifelong and is shared with others. Client dissatisfaction at public health hospitals causes parturient women to do health care shopping to private hospitals and decrease utilization of service at public heath hospitals. The aim of this study was to assess client satisfaction and associated factors at public health hospitals in Hawassa city.