Clients’ Assessment of Quality of Antenatal Care Services at Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki, Nigeria: Understanding Key Role of Health Providers

Aims: The research objective of this article sought to determine the clients' evaluation of the quality of antenatal care (ANC) at Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki, Nigeria.

Study Design: A descriptive cross-sectional study design was adopted.

Place and Duration of Study: Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki, Nigeria. The study took place between April and May, 2018.

Methodology: A systematic random sampling technique was used to select 415 women receiving ANC at the facility. A questionnaire designed by the authors was used as an instrument for the research. A composite index of satisfaction (overall satisfaction) was derived. It was determined by proportion of clients who were satisfied with ANC services, were willing to use facility again for ANC and also recommend to others. It also included those who reported being well received at facility and were satisfied with attitude of Doctors and Nurses. A ‘Yes’ answer to these six variables was regarded as overall satisfaction.

Results: From the results of the study, mean age of respondents was 29.3±4.5 years. It was found that the major reasons for registering at the facility were quest for quality care (41.0%) and facility has trained health workers,(21.4%). Majority, 91.6% intend to deliver at the facility. It was found that majority (73.0%) had overall satisfaction with ANC services. The predictors of overall satisfaction included having attained tertiary education, (AOR=0.4; 95%CI: 0.2-0.8), being unemployed, (AOR=0.6; 95%CI: 0.3-0.9) and intention to deliver in same health facility, (AOR=2.4; 95%CI:1.2-5.1)

Conclusions: The major reasons for choosing the health facility for ANC were health worker related. Majority of the clients had overall satisfaction with antenatal services and were also willing to deliver at the facility. Being satisfied with ANC services facilitates delivery in health facility and this is capable of improving maternal health in Nigeria. In realizing this, health providers have a prominent role to play. There is thus the need to support health workers in fulfilling this essential role and this may necessitate training health workers on quality of care.