Care giver Satisfaction with Malaria Treatment of Under-fives at Primary Health Care Centres in Jos, Plateau State

Abstract

Background: Patient views on aspects of their care are becoming relevant components of service quality assessment. Malaria accounts for 78% of all under-five consultations in Nigeria and is the commonest outpatient consultation at primary health care facilities. The aim of this study is to assess the level of care giver satisfaction with malaria case management of under-five's at primary health care facilities.
Methodology: This was a cross sectional study among care givers of under fives attending primary health care centres in Jos North LGA of Plateau State. Multistage sampling was used to select PHCs to be studied. Systematic sampling technique was used to select under-fives seen at
these facilities. Exit interviews were conducted among care givers whose children had been managed for malaria at the selected PHCs using an interviewer administered questionnaire.
Results: A total of 124 care givers were interviewed. All care givers were mothers. Mean consultation time was 7.55 ± 5.09 minutes. Caregivers were informed of the diagnosis of their child's illness in 86.7% of
cases. Drug education was carried out in 87.9% of consultations. Most care givers were satisfied with health care worker reception and 68.5% were very satisfied with the examination of their child.
Conclusion: Care givers were generally satisfied with malaria case management of under-fives at PHC facilities in Jos North LGA. While such studies are fraught with methodological difficulties as well as issues of validity of measurement, patient satisfaction studies have the potential for stimulating improvements in quality of care.

Key Words: Caregiver Satisfaction, Malaria treatment, Under-fives, Primary health care, Plateau State