Perceived quality of antenatal care for pregnant women at a tertiary level hospital

Abstract

Introduction: Antenatal care (ANC) helps in the effective management of pre-natal morbidities, and facilitates institutional delivery and postpartum care, that can improve maternal and newborn health. Patient perceived quality is defined as the subjective and dynamic perception of the extent to which expected health care is received by a person and it provides excellent feedback to healthcare providers. Aim of the study: This study aimed to describe the perceived Quality of antenatal care for pregnant women at tertiary level hospitals in Bangladesh. Methods: A descriptive study was conducted among 98 pregnant women who were attending the antenatal care unit at OPD in Dhaka medical college hospital, Dhaka. A convenience sampling technique was used to select study participants. Data was collected through face-to-face interviews through a structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed by using frequencies, percentages, the mean and standard deviation to describe the demographic characteristic. Inferential statistics two-sample t-tests and ANOVA were used. Result: The mean age of pregnant mothers was 24.87(4.67) years, (ranging from 18 to 38). The total mean score quality of antenatal care was 3.77 ±.939. Only physical examination regarding fundal assessment rate was very poor (35.7%). There was a significant difference between education and perceived quality of antenatal care (F= 4.571, p = 013). Conclusion: The results revealed that those who had more education; had a more perceived quality of antenatal care and those who got more than four visits, had a good quality of antenatal care. The results provide baseline information for providing antenatal care to pregnant women about increasing the rate of physical assessment. The authentic assessment helps to reduce maternal and infant mortality and morbidity which can help in achieving the SDGs3.