Patients’ and Health Professionals’ Perception and Satisfaction on Malaria Diagnostic Service in Awi Zone; Amhara Nation Regional State, North West Ethiopia
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Date
2014
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Background: Correct diagnosis of malaria is crucial for proper treatment of patients and
surveillance of the disease. However, there are various limiting factors including inadequate
infrastructure and consumables. Furthermore, inappropriate perception and inadequate
satisfaction of health service providers and users are suggested as significant challenges in the
utilization and the quality of laboratory malaria diagnostic services in other African countries.
Objective: To assess perceptions and satisfactions of patients and health professionals about
malaria diagnostic service in Awi Zone, Amhara National Regional State, North West Ethiopia.
Methods: Health facility based cross sectional study was conducted from November to
December 2013. The patient sample size was determined by using single population proportion.
Interview and self administered structured questionnaires were employed to collect information
from laboratory personnel, clinicians and patients. Data were collected from 304 patients, 99
clinicians, 26 laboratory professionals and 11 key informants. Data was entered using Epi-Info
3.5.3, further analysis was done by SPSS version 20. Chi-square test was used to determine
association between the main out come and associated factors. The strength of association
between covariates and the main outcome was identified by using odds ratio in binary logistic
regression, and also multiple logistic regression was utilized to crosscheck confounders for those
associated variables. Values less than 0.05 and 95% CI were taken as significant level.
Result: Overall 52.6% of patients, 50% of laboratory professionals, and 61.2% of clinicians
were satisfied with malaria diagnostic service in their health facility laboratories. Ethnicity,
residence, knowing malaria diagnosis after consulting clinician, and time period to receive
malaria result were independent predictors for patient satisfaction (p< 0.05). Lack of benefit,
training or professional development and insufficient duty payment besides unequal workload
were some of the factors significantly affected lab professionals level of satisfaction (p<0.05).
Request for laboratory malaria diagnosis on the basis of clinical signs and symptoms of patients
and trust for malaria diagnostic result were important predictors for clinician satisfaction
(p<0.05).
Conclusion and Recommendation: Based on the finding, patients and health professionals level
of satisfaction on malaria diagnosis service was in the range of 50% to 61.2%. Lab constraints
were the main factors that mimic satisfaction for health professionals, and these in turn might
cause negligence of professionals towards patients and prolonged waiting time that presented
dissatisfaction for patients. Thus, the regional government should focus on those constraints that
compromise the quality of malaria diagnostic service.
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Keywords
Health Professionals; Malaria