Assessment of Mothers’ Satisfaction With Immediate Post Natal Care at Kenyatta National Hospital Maternity Unit

Abstract

Background: Satisfactory health services received by postnatal mothers within the first 72 hours after birth in the health care facilities are a source of joyous memories and experiences of childbirth. When the immediate postnatal care is not satisfactory, the dissatisfied postnatal mother retains negative experiences and this may affect her health seeking behavior in subsequent pregnancies. A satisfied mother is likely to come back for the services they need and more willing to recommend the health facility to their friends and relatives. Objective: The aim of the study was to assess the satisfaction of postnatal mothers with immediate postnatal care (PNC) in the postnatal wards at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH). Materials and Methods: A quantitative, descriptive cross-sectional study. The study population was postnatal mothers admitted in the postnatal wards at KNH. Sample size was 261 participants, determined using stratified simple random sampling. Informed consent obtained from eligible participants after a thorough explanation. The KNH-University of Nairobi (UON) Ethics and Research Committee approved for carrying out the study. Quantitative data collected using modified Jipis Postnatal Satisfaction with Nursing Questionnaire (JPSNQ). The data was entered and analyzed using excel and Stata. Analysis of inferential statistics done using correlation and regression of variables and results given using figures and tables. The researcher sought how independent variables (comfort with care and technical aspects of nursing care and customer care aspects,) affected mothers’ satisfaction with immediate postnatal care. Results: Most 33% (n=86) of the respondents’ age was within 23-26 years. The mean age was 27 years. Respondents above 35 years were 13% (n=35) while below 22 years were 17% (n=45). Most respondents 30 %( n=78) had attained tertiary education. Majority of the respondents 57 % (n=150) were married. First time mothers were 29 %( n=76) the most common delivery mode 66% (n=165) was vaginal delivery. Overall, the respondents’ were minimally satisfied (3) with immediate postnatal care at a mean score between 2.62 and 2.88 and an overall mean score of 2.47 (49%) and a standard deviation of 0.04. Overall, postnatal mothers were satisfied (2) with technical aspects of nursing care with a mean score of 2.88(58%) and a standard deviation of 0.04. However, respondents were minimally satisfied (3) with comfort care aspects with a mean score of 2.71(54%) and standard deviation of 0.04. Regarding customer care aspects, respondents were minimally satisfied (3) with customer care, with a mean score of 2.62(52%) and standard deviation of 0.04. There was a strong regression relationship between independent variables and satisfaction, where a unit future improvement in customer care, the overall satisfaction of postnatal mothers would improve by 28.5 percent, 19.0 percent with a unit improvement of comfort with care and 52.3 percent with unit improvement of the technical aspects of nursing care, all with a strong significance (p value-0.00). Conclusion: Based on this study finding, postnatal mothers were minimally satisfied with immediate postnatal care provided in the postnatal wards at Kenyatta National Hospital. Recommendations: There is need for the reproductive health stakeholders to come up with strategies on improving the immediate postnatal care of mothers admitted in the postnatal wards.