PARENTAL SATISFACTION TOWARDS CARE GIVEN AT NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS IN COMPREHENSIVE AND REFERRAL HOSPITALS OF SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA, 2022

Abstract

ABSTRACT Introduction: Patient satisfaction is an important aspect of the quality of care in the inpatient setting. In neonatal intensive care units, parent satisfaction and their experiences are fundamental to assessing clinical practice and improving the quality of care delivered to infants. Parental satisfaction is critical to reducing infant mortality rates around the world. In Ethiopia, there was lack of study that addresses level of parental satisfaction towards care given at neonatal intensive care unit. Objective: To assess parental satisfaction and associated factors in neonatal intensive care unit in comprehensive and referral hospitals of southern Ethiopia 2022. Methods: An institutional based cross sectional study was conducted from March28-April28, 2022 among 401 parents visited neonatal intensive care unit in comprehensive and referral hospitals of southern Ethiopia. A consecutive sampling technique was used and data were gathered via a structured interviewer administered questionnaire. Data were collected by open data kit and exported to SPSS window version 25 for cleaning and analysis. Both bivariate and multivariable analysis was done by using binary logistic regression to identify associated factors. Statistical significance was declared at a p-value < 0.05 Results: In this study, 63 %( 95% CI: 58%, 68%) parents were satisfied with the care given at neonatal intensive care unit. Factors associated with parental satisfaction towards care given at Neonatal intensive care unit were parents with no formal education[AOR =0.15; 95% CI: 0.07- 0.31],Primary education[AOR =0.46; 95%; CI: 0.21- 0.98],instrumental assisted delivery[AOR= 3.49; 95% CI: 1.28-9.51],availability of necessary information using direction indicator[AOR= 3.14; 95% CI: 1.85-5.31] and availability of enough chairs in waiting area[AOR= 3.26; 95% CI: 1.81-5.87] Conclusion and recommendations: Nearly two third of parents were satisfied with care given at neonatal intensive care unit. Providing adequate health facilities like, enough chair in waiting area and direction indicator are crucial to improve parental satisfaction towards their neonatal care.