Abstract:
Background: Neonatal Intensive Care Units are important units focused specifically on the health of newborns and the care for medically unstable or critically ill newborns. Patient satisfaction is the process in which the patient assesses the actual performance of the health care service against their expectation. Ethiopia has achieved significant gains in the series of health service development program. Despite these gains, a lot remain in quality of health care service. Though there is scarcity of studies regarding parental satisfaction with neonatal intensive care unit service in Ethiopia in general, the level parental satisfaction in this study area is not known.
Objectives: To assess level of parental satisfaction with neonatal intensive care unit service and associated factors at government hospitals of Arba Minch, Jinka and Sawla general hospital, Southern Ethiopia, 2021.
Methods: Institutional based cross-sectional study was conducted from April 01/2021 to June 30/2021 at government hospitals of Arba Minch, Jinka and Sawla general hospital, Southern Ethiopia, 2021. Systematic random sampling technique was employed to identify the study subject. Data were collected by using interview administered structured questionnaire. Data were entered to Epi data version 3.1 and analyzed using SPSS for windows version 25. Independent variables that had a p-value of less than 0.2 in bivariate logistic regression analysis were entered to Multivariable logistic regression analysis. Statistical significance was declared at a p-value of <0.05 with a 95% level of confidence. Model fitness was tested by Hosmer and lomeshow test.
Result: Out of 295, study participant 51.9% parents satisfied with Neonatal Intensive Care unit service. Factors significantly associated with parental satisfaction toward Neonatal Intensive Care unit service were, length of hospital stay <10 days (AOR=4.29 (95%CI (2.1, 8.76)), have support from family and friends (AOR=6.14 (95%CI (1.61, 23.46)), comfortable with waiting area (AOR =5.3, (95%CI (1.12, 24.96)) and Informed about Neonatal Intensive Care Unit rule by health care provider (AOR=20.39, (95%CI (3.80, 37.5)).
Conclusion and recommendations: This study concluded that the overall level of parental satisfaction was low (51.9%) when to compared to other related studies. Health care provider could be informing the parents about Neonatal Intensive Care Unit rule and hospitals could be prepare waiting area for patients to increase satisfaction.
