Maternal satisfaction and associated factors towards institutional delivery service at public hospitals in the Somali region, Eastern Ethiopia

BACKGROUND: Client satisfaction reflects the gap between the expected service and the experience of the service, from the client’s point of view. Maternal satisfaction with delivery services affects the selection of birthplaces and helps to identify gaps between actual health care and desired health care outcomes. There is a dearth of evidence on the factors of client satisfaction towards delivery services in the Somali region. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess maternal satisfaction and associated factors towards institutional delivery service at public hospitals in the Somali region, Eastern Ethiopia, in 2018. METHODS: An institution-based cross-sectional study design was conducted from December 1–30, 2018, on a total of 320 delivering mothers who gave birth. A systematic random sampling technique was used. A pretested structured questionnaire was used for data collection through a face-to-face interview. The data was checked for completeness and entered into EpiData. Statistical analysis was done by SPSS version.20. Binary logistic regression was used to identify factors. Multivariable analysis was done to compute adjusted odds ratios at 95% CI and a P-value <0.05 was used to declare a statistically significant association. RESULTS: The overall maternal satisfaction towards delivery service was 76.60% (95%CI: 71.90, 80.90). The short duration of labor below 12 hours (AOR = 1.80, 95%CI: 1.01, 3.2), waiting time below 15 minutes (AOR = 2.78, 95%CI: 1.10, 6.99) and planned pregnancy (AOR = 3.68, 95%CI: 1.59, 8.47) were significantly associated with mother’s satisfaction towards delivery services. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that more than three-quarters of mothers were satisfied with the institutional delivery service. Longer waiting time, suffering from persistent labor and having unplanned pregnancies hindering factors for maternal satisfaction. Therefore, programs on education and counseling towards pregnancy planning should be strengthened. Efforts should be made on availing adequate skilled birth attendants to manage persistent labor and handle longer waiting times.