DELIVERY CARE SATISFACTION AT GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS IN XIENGKHUANG PROVINCE UNDER THE MATERNAL AND CHILD HEALTH STRATEGY IN LAO PDR

Satisfaction with delivery care for mothers giving birth at medical facilities, particularly hospitals, affects birth place selection. Lao PDR faces high maternal and infant mortality, and the government had introduced the Maternal and Child Health Strategy to Xiengkhuang Province in 2009 to combat high maternal and infant mortality there. This study aimed to determine the levels of delivery care satisfaction among mothers who gave birth in hospitals and examine the associations between satisfaction and background factors. This was a cross-sectional study, conducted from July to August of 2013, for 246 mothers who gave birth at three hospitals. A logistic regression model was applied to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of the factors. The majority of respondents were ≤ 25 years of age (57.3%), educated in ≤12 years (64.2%), unemployed (77.6%), and with more than one child (60.2%). Most mothers (93.5%) received antenatal care at least one time. Among the 16 components of satisfaction, less than half of the respondents were satisfied with sanitary facilities (22.0%), cleanliness (39.4%), their infant’s health condition (42.7%), opportunity to clarify doubts about baby care (48.8%), their own health condition (43.5%), and privacy maintained during care (45.5%). The components with more than 80% satisfaction among the respondents were the politeness and respect shown by midwives (88.6%), nurses (85.4%), and doctors (80.1%) as well as medical service facilities (81.7%). Overall satisfaction was significantly associated with higher husband’s education (OR=2.36, 95% CI=1.07–5.19) and longer hospital stay (OR=2.30, 95% CI=1.28–4.14) when 15 background factors were adjusted. In conclusion, mothers who gave birth at hospitals in Lao PDR were generally satisfied, except for sanitary facilities, and cleanliness of facilities.