Assessment of the satisfaction level with antenatal care services among pregnant females in AlAhsa, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background: Satisfaction, which reflects the evaluation of outcomes by beneficiaries, is an important aspect of healthcare. In the context of antenatal care (ANC), satisfaction represents the pregnant patient's experience with the provided healthcare services. To improve ANC, it is crucial to continuously evaluate the quality of care by assessing patient satisfaction. This study aims to assess the level of satisfaction among pregnant females towards ANC in AlAhsa, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted using a validated questionnaire derived from a previously validated version. Cluster sampling was employed, with three clusters assigned: Primary Healthcare Centers, Ministry of Health Hospitals, and National Guard Hospital (NGH). By utilizing the Cochrane Formula with a 95% confidence interval and 5% margin of error, a sample size of 500 was estimated. Results: Overall, participants in AlAhsa expressed satisfaction with ANC services, with a Likert scale score of 4 out of 5. The NGH exhibited the highest percentage of total satisfaction (satisfied and strongly satisfied) at 82%. Waiting time received the lowest satisfaction percentage of 45.5%, with a mean score of 3.3 ± 1.4. Conclusion: The study found that 73.5% of participants were satisfied with ANC services. Notably, the NGH achieved the highest level of satisfaction. To enhance satisfaction levels, facilitating appointments booking could potentially reduce waiting times.