Lawali Yakubu* and Lamide A
Department of Nursing Sciences, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, Nigeria
*Corresponding author: Lawali Yakubu, Department of Nursing Sciences, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, Nigeria
Submission: March 05, 2020;Published: March 17, 2020
ISSN: 2640-9666Volume3 Issue5
Every pregnancy and child birth comes with a specific experience and none is guaranteed to be safe. Positive delivery experiences facilitate the further use of the reproductive health services and vice versa. The objective of the present investigation was to determine the maternal satisfaction towards delivery services at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital Sokoto. A cross-sectional descriptive study was used. The study was conducted on a sample of 158 postnatal women at UDUTH. The study participants were selected using convenient method of sampling and the data was collected using self-administrated questionnaires. Most of the respondents are within the age range of 30-39 71(49.3%) and most of which are Hausas by tribe 57(39.6%). The finding of the study shows that, majority of the women were satisfied with all the process/health workers related factors except for the sex of health care provider who attended to them. Also, majority of the women were satisfied with most of the maternal obstetrics history related factors. However, most of them were not satisfied with assisted delivery services, complicated outcome of delivery as well as loss of child during or after delivery. In conclusion there is a high level of maternal satisfaction with delivery services in UDUTH Sokoto. The study recommended that, condition of toilets and shower rooms in the delivery room and postnatal ward should be addressed to ensure the satisfaction of maternity clients. Government should make infrastructural improvements to overcome shortages of water and electricity, toilet and shower supplies.
Keywords: Maternal; Satisfaction; Delivery services pregnancy
With all the global efforts to overcome the pregnancy related deaths, deaths still remain an issue of concern in developing countries. These deaths are almost always preventable through the attendance of pregnancy and deliveries by skilled healthcare professionals in adequately supplied and equipped health facilities [1]. The causes of maternal mortality can be describe as: direct obstetric causes (73%) and indirect causes (27%) with the major causes being haemorrhage (27.1%), hypertensive disorders (14%), sepsis (10.7%), abortion (7.9%), and embolism (3.2%) [2]. Thus, the Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health (2016-2030) envisions a world in which every woman, child, and adolescent in every setting realizes his/her rights to physical and mental health and well-being, has social and economic opportunities, and is able to participate fully in shaping prosperous and sustainable societies [3]. Childbirth is a crucial experience in a women’s life as it has a substantial psychological, emotional, and physical impact. A positive experience in childbirth is important to the woman, infant’s health and well-being, and mother-infant relationship. Furthermore, it is useful for the care providers to guarantee the best preparation, health service, and support to childbearing women [4]. Memories and experiences of childbirth remain with the woman throughout her life. Clearly, the support and care they receive during this period is critical. Patient satisfaction is a major component of the quality of health care in service provision. Patient expectations of care and attitudes greatly contribute to satisfaction [5]. Mostly, maternal satisfaction is determined by the physical environment of the health service, and the availability and accessibility of medicines and supplies.
It is also affected by interpersonal communication with the health care provider, competency of the health care provider and support, and the health status of the mother and newborn [6]. Satisfaction during intrapartum care is the most influential attribute on service return behaviors and utilization [7]. Assessment of satisfaction with maternity services is crucial and helps in the future utilization of service [8]. Understanding and addressing them as part of quality-improvement programme can make delivery care safe, affordable, and respectful. In short, Ubiquinone et al. [9] assert that, continuity of maternal and childcare is related to the levels of satisfaction of mother and family members with health providers and health facilities. Despite that, little is known about the maternal satisfaction with delivery services at UDUTH. Hence the need for the study.
A descriptive survey design was used for this study to elicit maternal satisfaction with delivery services at Usmanu Danfodiyo University teaching hospital (UDUTH) Sokoto.
Target population
All mothers who gave birth in Usmanu Danfodiyo University (UDUTH) Sokoto in the labor ward and theatre at the time of data collection that fulfilled the selection criteria.
Inclusion criteria
Exclusion criteria
Sampling size determination
The sample size was derived from the average deliveries conducted in the month of August 2019 in the labor ward in UDUTJH Sokoto (Table 1). Therefore, the calculated sample size is 158, and a total of 158 questionnaires will be used.
Table 1: The average delivery conducted in the month of August 2019 in the labor ward in UDUTJH Sokoto.
Using the Slovin’s rule: n = N/(1+ Ne2) Where n = the minimum sample size required, N = study population = 260 e = the margin of error at 95% confidence level The sample size (n) = 260/(1 + 260 x (0.05)2) n = 260/(1+ 260 x 0.0025) n = 260/ 1 + 0.65 n = 260/1.65 n = 157.58 n = 158
Sampling technique
A convenient sampling technique was used in this study. Convenient non-probability sampling technique on the other hand is the type of sampling technique that involves the use of a target population that is available at the time of data collection without any selection criteria.
Instrument for data collection
The questionnaire is close ended type.
The data collected were organized and presented using descriptive statistics in the form of frequency tables. The result will be analyzed using a statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 20. A decision mean of 3.0 will be used to ascertain the satisfaction or non-satisfaction of the respondent to the questionnaire items.
Measurement scale:
Less than 3.0 is unsatisfied.
3.0 and above is satisfied.
Ethical consideration
Permission was obtained from the departmental research committee to carry out the study. The culture and religion of the subjects were considered and respected. Individual verbal consent was obtained from respondents after full explanation of what the project entails by the researcher in the questionnaire. Confidentiality was also maintained, and a serial number rather than names was written on the questionnaires to ensure anonymity. The copy of this research work would only be available in the department library for reference and for further study.
Data analysis
Section A: Socio-demographic data: The Table 2 shows that out of the 144 respondents, 71 were between the age-range of 30-39(49.3%) which formed the majority of the respondents, followed by those within the age range of 20-29(34.0%). 13 are within the age range of 40 and above (9.1%) and those within the age range of 10-19(7.6%) forms a minority of the respondents. Out of the 144 respondents; 57(39.6%) are Hausa by tribe, 28(19.4%) are Yoruba by tribe, 26(18.0%) are Igbo and the remaining 33(28.0%) are of other tribes which includes the Fulani, Gbagi, Igbira, Igala and Nupe. Out of the 144 respondents; 102(70.8%) are Muslims, and the other 42(29.2%) are Christians. 122 of the respondents are married (84.7%), 14(9.7%) single, and others comprised 2% and 1.4% were divorced or widowed, respectively. Of all the participants, 24(16.7%), 48(33.3%) & 39(29.1%) were primary, secondary and higher education certificate holders. While few have Islamic education, 21(14.6%) and 12(8.3%) had no formal education. The Majority of the respondent are unemployed women 41(28.5%), students 36(25%) and government employees 35(24.3%), private employees 18(12.5%) and self-employed women 14(9.7%) (Table 3).
Table 2: Socio-demographic data of mothers.
Table 3: Process/health workers related maternal satisfaction with delivery services.
The table shows that the majority of the women were satisfied with the waiting time before been attended to (X=3.49, SD=1.46), respect and courtesy by health workers (X=4.12, SD=1.47), amount of time spent on examination (X=3, SD=1.3), competency and confident of the health worker (X=4.45, SD=1.04), privacy measures provided by the health workers (X=3.84, SD=1.18), as well as the care and support provided to their babies (X=4.52, SD=0.93). However, most of them were dissatisfied with the sex of the health worker(s) who attended to them (X=2.88, SD=1.03) (Table 4). The table shows that the majority of the women were satisfied with the status of their pregnancies whether wanted (X=4.59, SD=0.94) or unwanted (X=4.53, SD=1.03), spontaneous vaginal delivery as a mode of their delivery (X=4.98, SD=1.41), a normal outcome of delivery (X=4.50, SD=1.05), as well as a live fetal birth outcome (X=4.19, SD=1.31). However, most of them were dissatisfied with assisted delivery (vacuum, forceps and CS delivery) (X=2.54, SD=1.03), complicated outcome of delivery (X=2.76, SD=1.26) and still birth & neonatal death outcome of delivery (X=2.98, SD=0.92).
Table 4: Maternal obstetrics history related maternal satisfaction with delivery services.
A total of 158 post-natal women were approached. 144 completed the questionnaires out of which 102(70.8%) are Muslims, and the other 42 (29.2%) are Christians. Most of the respondents are within the age range of 30-39 years of age-71(49.3%) and most of which were Hausas by tribe 57(39.6%). Most of the 144 respondents are married 122(84.7%) and are secondary education certificate (48-33.3) while few have Islamic education 21(14.6%). The majority of the respondents were unemployed women-41 (28.5%), students-36 (25%) and government employees-35 (24.3%). The respondents were satisfied with the number of health workers (X=3.58, SD=1.4). This is in contrast to a study done in Malawi that showed a shortage of health care workers including health professionals and issues related to their retention were important barriers to their quality of care. Similarly, the majority of the women were satisfied with the waiting time before been attended to (X=3.49, SD=1.46), this is in line with a study conducted in Assela Hospital. For the human dignity, majority of the women were satisfied with the respect and courtesy by health workers (X=4.12, SD=1.47). This is in line with a study conducted in maternity referral hospital in Addis Ababa which found the attitude of the health workers to have a relative higher satisfaction score [10]. As found in this study (X=3, SD=1.3), the above study also established women satisfaction with the amount of time spent on examination.
The results of this study will provide scientific evidence regarding mothers’ satisfaction with delivery care at UDUTH as performance measurement and also as consideration of satisfaction by health policy makers might be necessary for improving the quality of mother and newborn care, and reducing maternal mortality rate (MMR) and infant mortality rate (IMR) [19-22].
The above result concludes that there is a high level of maternal satisfaction with health workers and service delivery in UDUTH Sokoto.
© 2020 Lawali Yakubu. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License , which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and build upon your work non-commercially.