Maternal Satisfaction with Health and Healthcare Services: A Survey in Northern Iran

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Health Sciences Research Center, School of Health, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran

2 Islamic Azad University, Science and Research Branch, Tehran, Iran

3 Department of Health Educations, Ghaemshar Heath Center, Ghaemshar, Iran

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Patient satisfaction is an important indicator of the quality of health and healthcare services. Most relevant studies in Iran have been conducted in the nation’s capital, and there is a lack of large-scale studies in other regions of this country. In order to help filling this gap, this study was designed to undertake a relatively large-scale assessment of patient satisfaction with health and healthcare systems in Mazandaran province situated in northern Iran.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of 450 women who referred to health facilities in Mazandaran province. A quota random sampling method was adopted. Data were summarized using descriptive statistical methods. Chi-square and Fisher tests were used to analyze data.
Findings: A satisfaction rate of 65.5% and 56.8% was identified among the patient with health and healthcare services, respectively. A significant relationship was found between patients’ satisfaction with health services and their age, level of education, status as a homemaker, and number of children. Similarly, patients’ satisfaction with healthcare services showed a significant relationship with their age and number of children.
Conclusions: Our results indicate a gap between maternal satisfaction with health/healthcare services and the ideal situation. In addition, this study highlights the need for an in-depth analysis of the nature of relationship between patients’ satisfaction with health/healthcare services and their demographic characteristics to enable developing effective improvement strategies.

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