Perceptions of Good-Quality Antenatal Care and Birthing Services among Postpartum Women in Nepal

Abstract

Patient complaints and dissatisfaction should be taken seriously and used as an opportunity to provide acceptable services. Mounting evidence shows that the perception of the quality of healthcare services impacts health-seeking behaviors. This study explores the perceptions of good-quality antenatal and birthing services among postpartum women. A qualitative study using phenomenological inquiry was conducted in the Morang district, Nepal. The study participants were postpartum women with at least one high-risk factor who refused the referral hospital’s birth advice. A total of 14 women were purposively selected and interviewed in-depth. NVivo 12 Plus software was used for systematic coding, and thematic analysis was performed manually. Three themes emerged: (i) women’s opinions and satisfactory factors of health services, (ii) expectations of the health facility and staff, and (iii) a lack of suggestions to improve the quality of care. Women did not have many expectations from the healthcare facility or the healthcare providers and could not express what good quality of care meant for them. Women from low socioeconomic status and marginalized ethnicities lack knowledge of their basic reproductive rights. These women judge the quality of care in terms of staff interpersonal behavior and personal experiences. Women will not demand quality services if they lack an understanding of their basic health rights.

Associations of antenatal care visit with utilization of institutional delivery care services in Afghanistan: intersections of education, wealth, and household decision-making autonomy

“…A plausible mechanism underlying this association is that women with a higher number of ANC visits have a higher awareness of pregnancy-related complications. Thus, they are more likely to seek professional delivery care services [ 28 , 29 ]. So, the women who have more ANC visits at a health facility have more chances to meet skilled birth personnel and thus to have delivery there by them.…”

“Can’t live willingly”: A thematic synthesis of qualitative evidence exploring how early marriage and early pregnancy affect experiences of pregnancy in South Asia

“…Girls usually left school before or shortly after marriage, negatively affecting their knowledge of reproductive and maternal health which was often taught in school [ 45 , 46 , 48 , 49 , 51 , 54 – 56 , 58 , 60 , 69 , 80 , 100 , 109 , 113 , 115 ]. This 17-year-old mother expressed how her lack of education negatively affected pregnancy preparedness:…”

“…Related to this, pregnant women and girls generally felt embarrassed and ashamed when discussing their pregnancy [ 17 , 44 , 72 , 83 , 89 , 91 , 99 , 104 , 115 ]. Women who were younger, less educated, and had a faster transition from childhood to pregnancy tended to be more shy and embarrassed when discussing their pregnancy [ 44 , 46 , 62 , 72 , 83 , 91 , 99 , 120 ].…”

Key factors associated with quality of postnatal care: a pooled analysis of 23 countries

“…Compared with those from wealthier households, women from poorer households often have more limited health knowledge and less access to essential health services, including PNC. 23 , 28 , 29 In addition, attendance of four or more ANC visits was found to be strongly associated with higher quality of maternal and neonatal PNC, as there is an increased opportunity for mothers to become more informed about potential complications and receive greater encouragement to seek high-quality PNC. 30 Moreover, our study found that advanced maternal age was associated with quality PNC, which was consistent with the findings of studies conducted in Nepal and Uganda.…”