Wait time and service satisfaction at Antenatal Clinic, Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife.

OBJECTIVE: Antenatal care is an essential aspect of health care delivery for improving pregnancy outcome such that about two-thirds of maternal deaths can be prevented. The study was carried out with the aim to assess patient satisfaction on some aspects of antenatal care services (timeliness, courtesy, communication and competence of personnel in the clinic) and estimated time spent in clinic.

METHODOLOGY: The study was a cross sectional survey of pregnant mothers attending antenatal clinic of the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex within the period of the study. The patients who were willing to participate in the study were recruited and interviewed with pretested questionnaire. Direct observation of the total time spent clinic was also conducted.

RESULTS: Four hundred pregnant mothers were recruited and interviewed. 55% were satisfied with the quality of health talk, 72.6% were of the opinion that the services of the hospital are good and meet their needs and 87% agreed with the quality of health talk. 53.7% agreed with the competency of the hospital staff, 39.1% agreed with timely response of the staff and 20.5% were of the opinion that the staffs were friendly and polite. The socio-demographic factors that significant influenced the respondent's satisfaction of the antenatal services and time spent in clinic were educational and occupational status. The total time spent in the clinic was 2hrs 42 mins of which 1 hr 40 was spent at the nurse's desk, 13 minutes for consultation with the doctor and the rest for laboratory services, record services. The transit time before consultation with nurses and doctors were 51.2 minutes and 2 hr 29 mins respectively.

CONCLUSION: Majority of respondents were satisfied with the care received, however long waiting times is the norm of antenatal care services