Satisfaction with early postpartum care among postpartum women at University of Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC)

Abstract

Objective: To assess the postpartum women satisfaction with the early postpartum care received at University Malaya Medical Center. Background: Early puerperium is the period of dependence by the mothers on nurses and midwives. Postnatal natural biophysical and psychological changes which occur during this period may contribute to some adverse health condition. However, most maternal and neonatal problems can be prevented with careful attention from the midwives during the first twenty four hours post delivery. This study was undertaken to examine women's satisfaction level with the care received as indicator of quality care. Study Design: A descriptive quantitative research approach was used to explore the early postpartum care services and examine the postpartum women's level of satisfaction with the carer eceived. Data were collected from 297 postpartum women who had normal delivery from March 2005 to June 2005. Data were analyzed to determine the adequacy of ward routine practices received where satisfaction towards care received was regarded as an indicator of quality postpartum care. Bivariate correlation, t-test analysis was conducted to examine whether care satisfaction was predicted by demographic data. Principal Findings: Majority of the participants were 50% to 75% satisfied with the postpartum care received even though the ward routine care practices received by the postpartum women averaged 69% compliance with the ward Standard Operating Procedures. Satisfaction towards the overall postpartum care interventions received by both mother and baby registered the area of care with highest satisfaction level whereas the amount of help received from the nurses in assisting them with their own basic needs and with babies' need registered the area of care with the lowest satisfaction level. However, there was no significant relationship found between the women's demographic data with the level of satisfaction as tested by the Spearman and Pearson Correlation analysis. Conclusion: The enthusiastic response relating high satisfaction level with care received, even though services rendered did not comply well with the ward Standard Operating Procedure, indicated that most of the postpartum women did not know their preferences nor had low expectations towards quality postpartum care. Overall, the findings suggested that the quality management system has an important role in strengthening the postpartum services by increasing the midwives' awareness on the importance of quality early postpartum care in promoting maternal and newborn health and preventing maternal postpartum complications.