Aim:
This study aimed to (i) identify community health workers’ (CHWs) perceived satisfaction for maternal and neonatal health services, with respect to (1) socio-demographic characteristics; (2) coronavirus preparedness; (3) coronavirus responsiveness; and (4) employee satisfaction and (ii) investigate the interplay among study variables to identify the role of direct effects and mediation.
Background:
Women CHWs are salient providers for maternal and neonatal services at the primary level, especially in conservative regions. Service delivery is a valuable indicator for mother and newborn wellbeing. There is need for empirical evidence to understand how CHWs may be supported in delivering maternal and neonatal health services during pandemics.
Methods:
Bivariate regression was used to identify the lower odds for CHWs’ perceived satisfaction for maternal and neonatal health services. In addition, structural equation modeling was used to investigate if coronavirus responsiveness and employee satisfaction as mediating variables influence the relationship between coronavirus preparedness and maternal and neonatal health services. Data were collected telephonically from 350 CHWs. The sample was representative of 35 districts of Punjab, which is the most populated province in the country.
Findings:
We found thirty predictors with respect to coronavirus preparedness, coronavirus responsiveness and employee satisfaction which contribute to lower odds of satisfaction for maternal and neonatal health services. We also found that coronavirus preparedness has a direct effect on maternal and neonatal health service satisfaction (β = .242, P < .001) and an indirect effect on maternal health satisfaction (β = .242, P < .001) via the mediation of employee satisfaction. We conclude with four critical recommendations to support CHWs in delivering optimal services, comprising of education and training, operational support, public acceptance, and employee support and benefits. The findings are important for the planning of primary health services and governance support for CHWs and poor women clients in Pakistan and other developing countries.
Aim: Community health workers (CHWs) have emerged as salient health team members in disadvantaged primary settings to provide critical services to disadvantaged mothers and their newborns. There is need for empirical evidence to understand how CHWs may be supported in delivering maternal and neonatal health services during pandemics. Subject and Methods: In this study we used bivariate regression to identify the lower odds for CHW perceived satisfaction for maternal and neonatal health services, with respect to client socio-demographic characteristics, coronavirus preparedness, coronavirus responsiveness, and employee satisfaction. In addition, we used structural equation modeling to investigate if coronavirus responsiveness and employee satisfaction as mediating variables influence the relationship between coronavirus preparedness and maternal and neonatal health services. Results: From a sample of 350 CHWs across 35 districts of Punjab, we found 30 predictors with respect to coronavirus preparedness, coronavirus responsiveness and employee satisfaction which contribute to lower odds of maternal and neonatal health services. We also identified that employee satisfaction is a key mediator in the relationship between coronavirus preparedness and maternal and neonatal health services. Conclusion: We conclude with 4 critical recommendations to support CMWs in delivering optimal services, comprising: education and training, operational support, public acceptance, and employee support and benefits.
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