Client Satisfaction to Referral Service and Associated Factors Among Health Centers in Tigray, Ethiopia, 2019

PURPOSE: Even though referral is a major public health issue in the sub-Saharan countries including Ethiopia, there is limited data particularly in the study area. So, this study was aimed to assess client satisfaction with referral service and associated factors. OBJECTIVE: To assess client satisfaction to referral service and associated factors among Health Centers in Tigray, Ethiopia, 2019. METHODS AND MATERIALS: This was an institutional-based cross-sectional study carried out among Health Centers selected using simple a random sampling technique from February 2019 to April 2019. A total of 421 referred individuals were proportionally allocated to eight health centers and interviewed using pretested 5-point Likert scale structured questionnaire. After data collection, it was entered using Epi Info then transferred to Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) for the purpose of analysis. Factors associated with the satisfaction toward referral service were assessed using binary logistic regression. Statistically significant variables at the bivariate logistic regression analysis were regarded as nominees for multivariable analysis. The strength of the association of factors with satisfaction toward referral was determined by computing crude odds ratio (COR) and the adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI). P-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: In this study, 47% of referred patients were satisfied with the referral of Health Centers. Residence (AOR=2.2 CI=1.3, 1.5), age (AOR=3.1 CI =2.3, 6.4), and educational status (AOR=2.1 CI =1.7, 4.9) were statistically significant factors. CONCLUSION: Significant clients were dissatisfied with the referral of Health Centers. Age, educational status, and residences were statistically significant factors. So, the Health Centers management and health care provider should work to reduce time spent to get a referral, reduce challenges in the referral process, increase helping and giving responsibility for the referred clients, improve communication.