The quality of maternal-fetal and newborn care services in Jordan: a qualitative focus group study
Abstract Background The antenatal, intrapartum, and postnatal periods are considered high-risk periods for the health of mothers and their newborns. Although the current utilization rate of some maternal and child care services in Jordan is encouraging, detailed information about the quality of thes...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2019-06-01
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| Series: | BMC Health Services Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12913-019-4232-9 |
| _version_ | 1818435846945112064 |
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| author | Mohammad S. Alyahya Yousef S. Khader Anwar Batieha Majed Asad |
| author_facet | Mohammad S. Alyahya Yousef S. Khader Anwar Batieha Majed Asad |
| author_sort | Mohammad S. Alyahya |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The antenatal, intrapartum, and postnatal periods are considered high-risk periods for the health of mothers and their newborns. Although the current utilization rate of some maternal and child care services in Jordan is encouraging, detailed information about the quality of these services is limited. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the quality of maternal-fetal and newborn antenatal care (ANC), delivery, and postnatal care (PNC) services in Jordan. Methods We conducted 12 focus group discussions (FGDs) with pregnant and postpartum women who attended maternal-child care services in three major hospitals in Jordan. All FGDs were recorded and transcribed verbatim. An inductive thematic analysis approach was used to identify themes and subthemes. Results The content analysis of the FGDs revealed a consensus among the discussants regarding the importance of ANC and PNC services for the health of mothers and their newborns. However, the participating women viewed ANC to be much more important than PNC. With regards to the choice between public and private antenatal care services, some of the discussants were disposed towards the private sector. Reasons for this included longer consultation time, a higher quality of services, better interpersonal and communication skills of healthcare providers, better treatment, more advanced equipment and devices, availability of female obstetricians, and more flexible appointment times. These women only perceived public hospital services to be necessary in cases of pregnancy-related complications and labor, as the costs of private sector services in such cases are too high. The findings also revealed that mothers usually only seek PNC services to check up on their newborn’s health and not their own. Conclusion Visiting private ANC clinics throughout pregnancy while giving birth in public facilities leads to the discontinuity and fragmentation in maternal-fetal and child healthcare services. To address this fragmentation, healthcare systems are proposed to establish interprofessional teamwork that requires different healthcare providers with complementary skills and practices in both public and private settings to work co-operatively and collectively. Investment in new technologies and interventions which enhance coordination and collaboration between public and private healthcare settings is necessary for the provision of non-traditional maternal healthcare. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T16:59:23Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-28019970151e4706baf000e873363867 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1472-6963 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T16:59:23Z |
| publishDate | 2019-06-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Health Services Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-28019970151e4706baf000e8733638672022-12-21T22:53:53ZengBMCBMC Health Services Research1472-69632019-06-0119111610.1186/s12913-019-4232-9The quality of maternal-fetal and newborn care services in Jordan: a qualitative focus group studyMohammad S. Alyahya0Yousef S. Khader1Anwar Batieha2Majed Asad3Department of Health Management and Policy, Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Public Health and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Public Health and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and TechnologyJordan Ministry of Health, Directorate of non-communicable diseasesAbstract Background The antenatal, intrapartum, and postnatal periods are considered high-risk periods for the health of mothers and their newborns. Although the current utilization rate of some maternal and child care services in Jordan is encouraging, detailed information about the quality of these services is limited. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the quality of maternal-fetal and newborn antenatal care (ANC), delivery, and postnatal care (PNC) services in Jordan. Methods We conducted 12 focus group discussions (FGDs) with pregnant and postpartum women who attended maternal-child care services in three major hospitals in Jordan. All FGDs were recorded and transcribed verbatim. An inductive thematic analysis approach was used to identify themes and subthemes. Results The content analysis of the FGDs revealed a consensus among the discussants regarding the importance of ANC and PNC services for the health of mothers and their newborns. However, the participating women viewed ANC to be much more important than PNC. With regards to the choice between public and private antenatal care services, some of the discussants were disposed towards the private sector. Reasons for this included longer consultation time, a higher quality of services, better interpersonal and communication skills of healthcare providers, better treatment, more advanced equipment and devices, availability of female obstetricians, and more flexible appointment times. These women only perceived public hospital services to be necessary in cases of pregnancy-related complications and labor, as the costs of private sector services in such cases are too high. The findings also revealed that mothers usually only seek PNC services to check up on their newborn’s health and not their own. Conclusion Visiting private ANC clinics throughout pregnancy while giving birth in public facilities leads to the discontinuity and fragmentation in maternal-fetal and child healthcare services. To address this fragmentation, healthcare systems are proposed to establish interprofessional teamwork that requires different healthcare providers with complementary skills and practices in both public and private settings to work co-operatively and collectively. Investment in new technologies and interventions which enhance coordination and collaboration between public and private healthcare settings is necessary for the provision of non-traditional maternal healthcare.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12913-019-4232-9Antenatal care (ANC)Postnatal care (PNC)Continuity of careCare coordinationMaternal qualityChild care quality |
| spellingShingle | Mohammad S. Alyahya Yousef S. Khader Anwar Batieha Majed Asad The quality of maternal-fetal and newborn care services in Jordan: a qualitative focus group study BMC Health Services Research Antenatal care (ANC) Postnatal care (PNC) Continuity of care Care coordination Maternal quality Child care quality |
| title | The quality of maternal-fetal and newborn care services in Jordan: a qualitative focus group study |
| title_full | The quality of maternal-fetal and newborn care services in Jordan: a qualitative focus group study |
| title_fullStr | The quality of maternal-fetal and newborn care services in Jordan: a qualitative focus group study |
| title_full_unstemmed | The quality of maternal-fetal and newborn care services in Jordan: a qualitative focus group study |
| title_short | The quality of maternal-fetal and newborn care services in Jordan: a qualitative focus group study |
| title_sort | quality of maternal fetal and newborn care services in jordan a qualitative focus group study |
| topic | Antenatal care (ANC) Postnatal care (PNC) Continuity of care Care coordination Maternal quality Child care quality |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12913-019-4232-9 |
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