Women satisfaction with antenatal care services in Basrah

Abstract EN

The present study reports the results of the evaluation of antenatal care services in Abulkhasib district in Basrah City during the period of January-June 1999 through the evaluation of women satisfaction with antenatal care services provided by primary health care centres in the district.

The study was conducted by exit interview of 266 currently pregnant and lactating women attending primary health care centres for maternal care.

Women were asked about their satisfaction with different aspects of care.

It was found that 74.1 % of them were satisfied with services, 21.4 % were fairly satisfied and 4.5 % were not satisfied at all.

High levels of satisfaction were recorded with aspects related to tetanus toxoid immunization, humanity of doctors and staff, availability of nurses, and doctor’s care.

The study revealed low level of satisfaction with waiting time, health education provision, and continuity of care.

However, women who were not satisfied stated some deficiencies in antenatal care services which mainly included: insufficient drugs and tonics, insufficient investigations, lack of sufficient medical staff, in addition to some structural and organizational deficiencies.

The study suggested some recommendations to improve antenatal care performance in the primary health care centres.