Parental satisfaction with quality of malaria diagnostic service at University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Edo State

Abstract

Background: Parents determine where and when to access care for their children. Assessing parental satisfaction with the quality diagnostic services offered for an endemic disease like malaria in a health system is more likely to determine compliance with treatment and future usage of such medical services. This study specifically aimed to assess parental satisfaction with the quality of malaria diagnostic service at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH).

Methods: The study is a descriptive survey. A structured questionnaire with a five point Likert scale was used for data collection from parents of children on evaluation for malaria. A mean score of 3.0 and above was used as an acceptable response for high level of satisfaction. The maximal allowable score was 5.

Results: parents of children on evaluation for malaria (60%) were of the opinion that the clinicians made proper malaria diagnosis and 22.3% felt that a combination of the clinician and laboratory services made the correct diagnosis. While the least properly diagnosed malaria was the pharmacy (1.5%) and self (2.3%) respectively. This study noted that of all the socio demographic variables only mother level of education was found to significantly influenced the level of satisfaction with the quality of malaria diagnostic services offered at CHER in UBTH (p< 0.05).

Conclusion: parent satisfaction with the quality of malaria diagnosis by the clinician was high in this study. However, areas with least level of satisfaction such as waiting time and work ethics should be reviewed for improvement to enhance patient believe in the system.