A STUDY ON THE ANTENATAL CARE SERVICE: WOMEN’S PERCEPTION AND EXPERIENCE, SODO HEALTH CENTER, WOLAITA ZONE, SNNPR

Abstract

The Objective of this study was to make an assessment of women’s perception and practice regarding antenatal care service they obtained, in Sodo Health Center, Wolaita zone, SNNPR. The study design was a cross-sectional descriptive survey. As a sampling method, purposive sampling method was used, because this study seeks predefined groups, which are pregnant women. Total of 101 pregnant women participated in the study. Major findings include: The majority of respondents are under the age category of 20-24 years, teen age pregnancy comprise of 12.8% of total pregnancies. According to this study result, only 23.8% of pregnant women were obtained antenatal care service timely or within first trimester. Very optimal practice in some major indicators and less performance in other indicators, 99% for Blood Pressure measurement and 58.4% for checking leg edema identified respectively. Antenatal care service providers’ performance of health advice and counseling is less satisfactory; advice on place of delivery not provided for more than one third (36.6%) and advice on family planning not given for more than half (53.5%) of interviewed women. Even if they are minority, 10 respondents (9.9%) stated that the health center is lacking some basic supplies, laboratory reagents and medical equipment, Still very few, 8 out of 101 clients (7%) of participants also commented that the service providers are not friendly and lacking feeling of empathy towards pregnant women. 12.9% perceived the service obtained today as unsatisfactory, 26.7% of the respondents do not recommend the service to others or friends. Finally the study concluded that; practice of information exchange, health advice and counseling less frequent, shortage of basic supplies, laboratory reagents and medical equipment detected, still clear gap and enormous missed opportunity in performance of some indicators observed, waiting area is not comfortable, it is with poor access of pipe water and the latrine, service providers were not friendly, as a result 13% of pregnant women perceived the service as unsatisfactory and 27% of clients do not trust the service and they do not recommend the service to others or friends. To mitigate the identified gap the following recommendations provided: regular on job training for service providers and team leaders to provide service as per the standard, conducting continuous supportive supervision, mentoring and coaching of staff on provision of client friendly service, strengthen IEC/BCC activities of the health center, ensure availability of all necessary supplies and equipments, improving waiting area and finally, service provision by respecting all clients, and adhering to professional ethics.