Perceptions of mothers and hospital staff of paediatric care in 13 public hospitals in northern Tanzania

Abstract

User and provider perceptions of quality of care are likely to affect both use and provision of services. However, little is known about how health workers and mothers perceive the delivery of care in hospital paediatric wards in Africa. Paediatric staff and mothers of paediatric inpatients were interviewed to explore their opinions and experience of the admission process and conditions on the ward. Overcrowding, unsanitary conditions and lack of food were major concerns for mothers on the ward, who were deterred from seeking treatment earlier due to fears that hospital admission posed a significant risk of exposure to infection. While most staff were seen as being sympathetic and supportive to mothers, a minority were reported to be judgemental and authoritarian. Health workers identified lack of trained staff, overwork and low pay as major concerns. Staff shortages, lack of effective training and equipment are established problems but our findings also highlight a need for wards to become more parent-friendly, particularly with regard to food, hygiene and space. Training programmes focused on professional conduct and awareness of the problems that mothers face in seeking and receiving care may result in a more supportive and cooperative attitude between staff and mothers.

Maternal Stress of Hospitalized Children in A Hospital of Rupandehi, Nepal

“…In the study conducted done by Mwangi et al (2008) on 13 public hospitals in northern Tanzania, the most effective environmental stressors were crowded rooms, lack of food, poor sanitation and fear from transmission of infections from other children to their child. 9 The study conducted by Soderback and Christensson, mothers' at the Central Hospital in Maputo, Mozambique, Southeast Africa mothers complaint related to environmental factors were about lack of sanitation services. 8 The findings of the study regarding stressors related to hospital staffs, 78% mothers had very high stress for giving the responsibility for monitoring IV fluids, 74.2% had very high stress for turning over responsibility for collecting samples to mothers by nursing staffs, 60.9% had very stress on lack of attention from nursing staffs about mother's problem and 68.5% had very high stress on lack of proper nutrition for hospitalized children.…”

“…In the study conducted done by Mwangi et al (2008) on 13 public hospitals in northern Tanzania, most of the stressors related to the staff and employees were caused by an inadequate explanation and that mothers (in addition to their own basic needs such as nutrition and rest) expect, were involved in the decision-making process by the medical staffs and also take adequate explanation about healing process and invasive procedures. 9…”

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“…La verdad es que podemos vislumbrar que ya están aquí, del inmigrante al turista con ganas de aventura, la puerta de entrada a nuestro sistema está abierta. Pero podemos dar repuesta, seguramente sí, aunque apoyándonos como siempre en dos pilares: la formación de los agentes de salud y la información a la población afectada (12,13).…”