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Expectations and needs of Ugandan women for improved quality of childbirth care in health facilities: A qualitative study
Author(s) -
Kyaddondo David,
Mugerwa Kidza,
Byamugisha Josaphat,
Oladapo Olufemi T.,
Bohren Meghan A.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
international journal of gynecology and obstetrics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.895
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1879-3479
pISSN - 0020-7292
DOI - 10.1002/ijgo.12405
Subject(s) - childbirth , focus group , thematic analysis , nursing , dignity , context (archaeology) , quality (philosophy) , qualitative research , health care , payment , health facility , investment (military) , medicine , psychology , business , pregnancy , environmental health , health services , economic growth , marketing , sociology , population , political science , finance , social science , philosophy , law , genetics , biology , paleontology , epistemology , economics , politics
Objective To describe the experiences, expectations, and needs of urban Ugandan women in relation to good‐quality facility childbirth. Methods Women who had given birth in the 12 months prior to the study were purposively sampled and interviewed, or included in focus groups. Thematic analysis was used, and the data were interpreted within the context of an existing quality of care framework. Results Forty‐five in‐depth interviews and six focus group discussions were conducted. Respect and dignity, timely communication, competent skilled staff, and availability of medical supplies were central to women's accounts of quality care, or a lack of it. The hope for a live baby motivated women to seek facility‐based childbirth. They expected to encounter competent, respectful, and caring staff with appropriate skills. In some cases, they could only fulfill these expectations through additional personal financial payments to staff, for clinical supplies, or to guarantee that they would be attended by someone with suitable skills. Conclusion Long‐term improvement in quality of maternity care in Uganda requires enhancement of the interaction between women and health staff in facilities, and investment in staff and resources to ensure that safe, respectful care is not dependent on willingness and/or capacity to pay.