Pregnant Women’s Perceptions of the Quality of Antenatal Care in a Public Hospital in Punjab, Pakistan during COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Study
Despite government efforts, many rural Pakistani women forgo regular antenatal visits, are unprepared for birth, and deliver at home or in private facilities, because they are dissatisfied with public health services. This study examined pregnant women’s perceptions of public health hospital prenata...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-03-01
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| Series: | Healthcare |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/11/7/996 |
| _version_ | 1797607900833644544 |
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| author | Saima Tasneem Macide Artac Ozdal |
| author_facet | Saima Tasneem Macide Artac Ozdal |
| author_sort | Saima Tasneem |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Despite government efforts, many rural Pakistani women forgo regular antenatal visits, are unprepared for birth, and deliver at home or in private facilities, because they are dissatisfied with public health services. This study examined pregnant women’s perceptions of public health hospital prenatal care to suggest areas for improvement. Using simple random sampling, 200 pregnant women visiting a secondary care public health facility in Sargodha District, Pakistan, were enrolled in a cross-sectional study. The quality of prenatal care was assessed using a structured and validated questionnaire. Descriptive analysis and multivariate linear regression stepwise models were used. Of participants, 52% consider the services to be of poor quality. Education, income, number of living children, and long waiting time influenced the perceived prenatal care quality in the study population. Stakeholders rated existing services as suboptimal, especially in terms of staff availability and time spent, which reduces service use. Facility managers and policymakers should work to improve the quality of services to satisfy patients, encourage them to use antenatal care, and improve the health of both mother and child, especially in rural areas. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T05:37:03Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a75ead3ee5844bcf81c27f616c83f584 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2227-9032 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T05:37:03Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Healthcare |
| spelling | doaj.art-a75ead3ee5844bcf81c27f616c83f5842023-11-17T16:43:56ZengMDPI AGHealthcare2227-90322023-03-0111799610.3390/healthcare11070996Pregnant Women’s Perceptions of the Quality of Antenatal Care in a Public Hospital in Punjab, Pakistan during COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional StudySaima Tasneem0Macide Artac Ozdal1Department of Health Management, Institute of Graduate Studies and Research, European University of Lefke, TRNC-10 Mersin, Lefke 99770, Northern Cyprus, TurkeyDepartment of Health Management, Faculty of Health Sciences, European University of Lefke, TRNC-10 Mersin, Lefke 99770, Northern Cyprus, TurkeyDespite government efforts, many rural Pakistani women forgo regular antenatal visits, are unprepared for birth, and deliver at home or in private facilities, because they are dissatisfied with public health services. This study examined pregnant women’s perceptions of public health hospital prenatal care to suggest areas for improvement. Using simple random sampling, 200 pregnant women visiting a secondary care public health facility in Sargodha District, Pakistan, were enrolled in a cross-sectional study. The quality of prenatal care was assessed using a structured and validated questionnaire. Descriptive analysis and multivariate linear regression stepwise models were used. Of participants, 52% consider the services to be of poor quality. Education, income, number of living children, and long waiting time influenced the perceived prenatal care quality in the study population. Stakeholders rated existing services as suboptimal, especially in terms of staff availability and time spent, which reduces service use. Facility managers and policymakers should work to improve the quality of services to satisfy patients, encourage them to use antenatal care, and improve the health of both mother and child, especially in rural areas.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/11/7/996quality of antenatal carematernal healthperinatal carePakistanSDG 3utilization of maternal health services |
| spellingShingle | Saima Tasneem Macide Artac Ozdal Pregnant Women’s Perceptions of the Quality of Antenatal Care in a Public Hospital in Punjab, Pakistan during COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Study Healthcare quality of antenatal care maternal health perinatal care Pakistan SDG 3 utilization of maternal health services |
| title | Pregnant Women’s Perceptions of the Quality of Antenatal Care in a Public Hospital in Punjab, Pakistan during COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_full | Pregnant Women’s Perceptions of the Quality of Antenatal Care in a Public Hospital in Punjab, Pakistan during COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_fullStr | Pregnant Women’s Perceptions of the Quality of Antenatal Care in a Public Hospital in Punjab, Pakistan during COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Pregnant Women’s Perceptions of the Quality of Antenatal Care in a Public Hospital in Punjab, Pakistan during COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_short | Pregnant Women’s Perceptions of the Quality of Antenatal Care in a Public Hospital in Punjab, Pakistan during COVID-19: A Cross-Sectional Study |
| title_sort | pregnant women s perceptions of the quality of antenatal care in a public hospital in punjab pakistan during covid 19 a cross sectional study |
| topic | quality of antenatal care maternal health perinatal care Pakistan SDG 3 utilization of maternal health services |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9032/11/7/996 |
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