Patients' satisfaction with reproductive health services at Gogo Chatinkha Maternity Unit, Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Blantyre, Malawi

Patient satisfaction is an individual's state of being content with the care provided in the health system. It is important for reproductive health care providers to get feedback from women regarding satisfaction with reproductive health services. There is a dearth of knowledge about patient satisfaction in Malawi. Aim The specific objective of the study was to determine the extent to which women are satisfied with the care they receive when they come to deliver at the Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital maternity unit. Methods A cross sectional study of postpartum women using interviewer administered semi-structured questionnaires was conducted between November 2008 and May 2009. The questionnaires captured mainly quantitative data. Results 1562 women were interviewed. Most women were housewives (79%) who were referred from Health Centres within the city. Ninety five percent delivered a live baby. The majority of women (97.3%) were satisfied with the care they received from admission through labour and delivery and the immediate postpartum period. Most women cited doctors' and nurses' reviews (65%) as what they liked most about the care they received during their stay in the unit. Most women expected to receive efficient and definitive care. The women's knowledge on patient's rights was extremely low (16%) and equally very few women were offered an opportunity to give an opinion regarding their care by the doctors and nurses in the maternity unit. Conclusion Most women who deliver at the hospital are satisfied with the care offered. This satisfaction is mainly due to the frequent reviews of patients by nurses and doctors in the unit. There is a great need to educate both the population of women served and the health workers that serve them on patient's rights.