Clients’ Satisfaction with Services for Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV in Public Health Facilities in Diredawa City, Eastern Ethiopia

Background

Mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV can occur during pregnancy, labor, childbirth, and breastfeeding.^1,2 Globally, approximately 38 million people are currently living with HIV, and tens of millions of people have died due to AIDS--related causes since the beginning of the epidemic.³ Although there have been significant declines in new infections since the mid-1990s, there were still about 1.7 million new infections in 2019.⁴

HIV remains a leading cause of death globally among women of reproductive age. However, AIDS-related deaths have declined, due in part to antiretroviral treatment scaling up,⁵ and AIDS-related death had been reduced to 690,000 in 2019, a 37% decrease from 1.1 million in 2010.^5,6 About 80% of pregnant women living with HIV were receiving antiretroviral treatment in the year 2017. This can be considered a significant improvement compared to 2010, when only 51% had access to the treatment.⁷ Despite this significant progress, 740,000 women of reproductive age became HIV-positive. Nearly three-quarters of these women live in 23 countries. The vast majority are in sub-Saharan Africa and are classified as high priority for the prevention of MTCT (PMTCT), as reported by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS.^7,8

Pregnant women and children aged <15 years in sub-Saharan Africa account for around two-thirds of the world’s HIV infections, and this in turn has serious complications for children born to positive women.⁹ In this regard, in 2019 it was estimated that around 150,000 children were newly infected with HIV,¹⁰ of which >90% of them were infected through MTCT.^11,12 In the absence of treatment, about half these infected children will die before their second birthday.¹¹ Although there is progress in increasing availability of free antenatal care (ANC) and PMTCT programs in sub-Saharan Africa, the rate of MTCT of HIV is still 15%–40%.¹³

Ethiopia is one of the east African countries to have been highly affected by HIV.^14,15 As a 2016 report indicates, around 20,000 people have died due to the virus.^14,16 Similarly, Ethiopia is also among the ten countries in the world with the highest number of children infected by MTCT,¹⁷ and the rate of MTCT of HIV, including breastfeeding, is about 15.9%.¹⁶ Accordingly, in 2007 Ethiopia started universal screening of pregnant women for HIV, and in a majority of cases HIV testing during pregnancy is provided as part of ANC.² However, progress is not satisfactory: only two-thirds of pregnant women had an ANC visit,¹⁸ below the WHO goal for HIV screening (80%).¹¹ Though universal screening was adopted, the 2012–2013 report showed that even among mothers who had attended ANC, more than a third had not been tested for HIV,¹⁹ thus representing a significant missed opportunity for provision of PMTCT services.^19,20

The Federal Ministry of Health also recognized and accepted the vision of an HIV-free generation endorsed by UNAIDS to reduce HIV MTCT to <2% by 2020.^2,21 To achieve this goal, HIV screening during pregnancy should be raised to >95%.²² Thus, ensuring client satisfaction while delivering PMTCT services has significant benefit in optimizing uptake, adherence, and retention throughout care for better outcomes.^23,24 Strengthening the linkage of PMTCT services within maternal, newborn, child health, sexual and reproductive health, and family-planning services in health facilities is one of the strategies for addressing PMTCT targets.²⁵ Client satisfaction with PMTCT services is an indicator of quality of service and is one of the measures of desired outcomes in health care,^25,26 as it influences service utilization.²⁷ Despite assessing and addressing client satisfaction being of paramount importance in scaling up PMTCT-service utilization, there is scant proof concerning magnitude and factors associated with client satisfaction with PMTCT services, particularly in Diredawa city, eastern Ethiopia.

Methods

Study Area, Period, and Design

This study was conducted in Diredawa city, eastern Ethiopia, which is located 515 km from the capital city Addis Ababa. The population of the city is estimated to be 388,279. Of this population, 194,770 (50.1%) are male and 193,509 (49.8%) are female.²⁸ This facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted from January to February 2018.

Study Participants

All women attending ANC in public health facilities of Diredawa city were the source population. Women who visited the selected health facilities for ANC services were included as the study population.

Sample Size and Sampling Technique

A single population–proportion formula was used to determine sample size: assumption of a 95% significance level, 4% margin of error, 71.2% client satisfaction with PMTCT services in public health facilities,²⁶ and a 5% non-response rate. The final sample size was determined to be 517. There are ten public health facilities in Diredawa city, and of these, five public health facilities were selected by lottery. Proportional allocation was used to select the sample from ANC units of selected health facilities. Finally, systematic random sampling was applied to recruit study participants. The study purposively selected and observed 15 clients–provider counseling sessions in both pretest and posttest HIV/AIDS-counseling services.

Data Collection

We used a standardized questionnaire adapted from a UNAIDS best-practice tool that focuses on HIV/AIDS-counseling services to measure client satisfaction.^26,29 Structured questionnaires containing sociodemographic and obstetric characteristics of respondents, comfort with counselors’ approaches, privacy during counseling, topics of discussion during HIV counseling, and understandability of messages during ANC was used to measure a more nuanced understanding of client satisfaction.^{23,26,30–32} Furthermore, service-provision processes were also observed for 15 client-counseling sessions using a checklist.^23,25,26,33 Interviewer-administered questionnaires were prepared first in English and then translated into Amharic and Afan Oromo as per the mother tongue of the participants and translated back into English for consistency by language experts. Pretesting was done on 5% of the total sampled population at Hiwot Fana Specialized University Hospital, then corrections and modification of the tool were carried out accordingly.

Data Collectors

Five diploma midwives and two supervisors not working in the selected health facilities were involved as data collectors. Exit interviews of clients were done by trained data collectors. The investigators and supervisors closely followed the data-collection process throughout the data-collection period. Each day, data collected were checked for completeness and corrective measures taken accordingly.

Operational Definitions

PMTCT Services

These comprised a package of services that included primary prevention of HIV in women, prevention of unintended pregnancy among HIV-infected women, interventions to reduce transmission from HIV-infected pregnant and lactating women to their children, and care and support of women, children, and families infected and affected by HIV.¹¹

Client Satisfaction

This was defined as client perception of the service or product in terms of meeting or even exceeding their expectations.²³ Client satisfaction was measured using the questionnaire with a 14-item scale. We used a five-point Likert-scale instrument, in which 5 denoted very satisfied and 1 very dissatisfied.²⁶ Satisfaction level was assessed using a five-pont Likert scale (1 very dissatisfied, 2 dissatisfied, 3 neutral, 4 satisfied, and 5 very satisfied).

Waiting Time

This refers to the period for which clients were expected to wait before receiving services.

Data Processing and Analysis

Data were first coded, then double-entered on EpiData version 3.1 and exported into SPSS version 21 for analysis. For the purpose of analysis, the five-item Likert scale was changed to a binary outcome variable (satisfied and dissatisfied). Accordingly, those who responded “very satisfied” and “satisfied” were categorized as satisfied clients and those who responded “neutral”, “dissatisfied”, and “very dissatisfied” were categorized as unsatisfied.²⁶

Descriptive statistics were used to analyze each variable, and results are summarized in the tables. Hosmer–Lemeshow and omnibus goodness-of-fit tests were used to assess whether necessary assumptions for the application of logistic regression met. Variables with P-value ≤0.25 on bivariate logistic regression were considered in the multivariable model. Crude odds ratios (CORs) and adjusted odds ratios (AORs) with 95% CI were calculated, and variables with P-value ≤0.05 on multivariable analysis were deemed statistically significant.

Ethical Considerations

Ethical clearance was obtained from the Institute of Health Research Ethical Review Committee of Haramaya University College of Health and Medical Sciences. Permission letters were obtained from Diredawa Health Bureau and each of public health facilities prior to the study. Voluntary written and signed consent was obtained from each study participant after informing them of the objectives of the study, confidentiality, right to withdrawal, benefits, and risks. This study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki.

Results

Sociodemographic Characteristics of Study Participants

A total of 516 pregnant women were involved in the study, making a response rate of 99.8%. More than half (52.9%) of the participants were hospital attendants and their mean age was 24.74±4.3 years. A majority (94.6%) were married, and 83.5% were urban residents. Two-thirds (65.5%) of the study participants were housewives (Table 1).

Table 1 Sociodemographic Characteristics of Participants (n=516)

Obstetric and PMTCT-Related Factors

The average gestational age of current pregnancy was 25.7 weeks. More than half (54.5%) of the study participants were multigravida, and a majority (88.3%) had come primarily for ANC follow-up. Almost all (98%) had heard about the presence of PMTCT services before they came to the health facility for ANC, and their main source of information for PMTCT services was health-care providers (72%). The duration of the counseling sessions was 5–60 minutes, with an average of 20 minutes. Regarding counseling services, more than half (56.2%) of the participants received both pretest and posttest HIV counseling from the same counselor. During the counseling sessions, a majority (87%) did not face a language barrier (Table 2).

Table 2 Obstetric and PMTCT Variables (n=516)

Client Responses Regarding PMTCT-Related Issues

Concerning client responses on the benefit of PMTCT services, almost all (99%) participants found that PMTCT-service counseling was beneficial and 86.1% liked the discussion on HIV/AIDS. Most (97.1%) were happy with the opening hours of the health facilities. Similarly, most (96%) were happy with the sessions and recommended the importance of the services to others. Over half (59.4%) of the participants had come to the health facilities on others’ recommendations, and only 3.9% of the participants preferred it that HIV/AIDS would not be discussed during their antenatal visit.

Observation of Pre- and Posttest Counseling Sessions

Fifteen counseling sessions were observed during pre- and posttesting. In all of the 15 observations that were made, the counselor had received the women in a welcoming manner and created a trusting or supportive rapport. It was observed that the counselor listened to women’s ideas and concerns in 12 of the 15 sessions and invited to ask questions in six. The counselors also attempted to respond to each of the questions raised. In all observed sessions, such counselor qualities as avoiding judgment or disapproval, treating the women with empathy, dignity, and respect, using language that could be easily understood by the women, and maintaining privacy were seen. Counselors checked to be sure that the women understood the information provided for all 15 observed sessions.

In all pretest counseling sessions, it was observed that counselors introduced and oriented the session for the women, prepared them well for the HIV test, explored options for reducing risk, and assessed them for possible risks. Posttest counseling for negative results was performed similarly in all the observed sessions. Negative HIV-test results were provided, risk-reduction plans negotiated, support for risk-reduction plans identified, and disclosure and partner referral negotiated. Finally, the importance of retesting following a window period was discussed in all counseling sessions.

Participants’ Satisfaction with PMTCT-Service Components

Most (96.6) of the participants were satisfied or very satisfied with the provider’s greeting. The same proportion were satisfied or very satisfied with the adequacy of time for counseling and counselors’ respect. However, more than half (55.0%) were dissatisfied with the availability of laboratory services when needed (Table 3).

Table 3 Client Satisfaction with Different Aspects of PMTCT Services (n=516)

Participants’ Overall Satisfaction with PMTCT Services

Of the 516 study participants, 424 (82.2%, 95% CI 66.4%–94.3%) clients were satisfied with the PMTCT component of HIV services.

Factors Affecting Client Satisfaction with PMTCT Services

The final multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that receiving counseling services from a hospital increased the odds of client satisfaction compared to those who received these from a health center (AOR 2.34, 95% CI 1.5–3.8). Similarly, receiving both pre- and posttest counseling from the same provider (AOR 3.62, 95% CI 2.98–7.17) increases the odds of client satisfaction compared to their counterparts. Client satisfaction increased for those who had no formal education (AOR 2.53, 95% CI 1.52–4.20) and those with primary education (AOR 2.17, 95% CI 1.17–4.04) and these were found to have a statistically significant association with PMTCT-service satisfaction. Furthermore, gestational age above first trimester (AOR 1.74, 95% CI 1.12–2.71) and waiting time≤15 minutes (AOR 2.31, 95% CI 1.28,4.16) were significantly associated with client satisfaction with PMTCT services compared to their counterparts (Table 4).

Table 4 Bivariate and Multivariable Analyses of Factors Associated with Client Satisfaction with PMTCT Services (n=516)

Discussion

In this study, 82.2% of clients were satisfied with PMTCT services, in line with a finding reported from Sebeta, Ethiopia (80.7%),³⁴ but lower than findings reported in Tanzania (92%)³³ and Hadiya, Ethiopia (90%).³⁵ This discrepancy might be due to differences in study settings. This study was conducted with urban clients, who are more aware of the option of treatment available, as they are frontline for information about PMTCT-related issues. As such, this could make them less likely to be involved in counseling sessions. On the other hand, clients living in rural settings might not have adequate knowledge on what is expected from counselors during sessions or might not be aware of the unavailability of laboratory services, making them easily satisfied.^23,35 In contrast, higher prevalence of client satisfaction was identified in this study than studies in Adama (74.7%)²⁶ and Dodoma, Tanzania (75.2%).²³ This high proportion might be due to differences in study period or geographical variation.

Ethiopia has taken many steps to resolve some of the barriers facing women when seeking maternity services. From these measures, the inclusion of prenatal, delivery, and postnatal care were listed as services free of charge.³⁶ However, there are serious constraints on the continuous supply of equipment or precursors for laboratory investigation, which causes clients not to get the necessary services or exposes them to charges for these services. As such, unavailability of laboratory services will profoundly lower clients’ perceived quality of care or satisfaction.³⁷ Similarly, this study revealed that more than half (55.0%) of the participants were not satisfied with the availability of certain laboratory services.

The present study found that client satisfaction with PMTCT services was nearly twice as times common among respondents with no formal and primary education than those with secondary education and above. Likewise, a similar finding was found in Dodoma, Tanzania.²³ This might be due to educated clients being more aware of PMTCT-related information or educated groups being less satisfied than less educated groups, because of higher-quality service expectations. Moreover, participants with higher education may inappropriately consider themselves as more knowledgeable and at lower risk of infection and thus fail to participate actively in counseling sessions.³⁸ The finding of this study revealed that the odds of client satisfaction with PMTCT services were 2.34 times higher among participants who accessed the services from a hospital than their counterparts. This may be the impact of unavailability of necessary laboratory services at health centers. Similarly, participants in this study were not satisfied with laboratory services. This is due to lack of adequate supplies and skilled personnel to provide appropriate services in health centers compared to hospitals.³⁵

Gestational age was significantly associated with client satisfaction with PMTCT services. The odds of being satisfied with PMTCT services were 1.74 times higher among participants with gestational age above first trimester than their counterparts. This was in agreement with a study conducted in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.³⁹ A possible explanation might be that clients in their first trimester usually have yet to be exposed to PMTCT services. Therefore, this unfamiliarity with the services might limit their interaction with providers and hence, hinder their full participation in the services. Client satisfaction with PMTCT services was 1.45 times more common among participants who waited for ≤15 minutes than their counterparts. This result was congruent with studies carried out in Nigeria³¹ and Tanzania.²³ This might be due to the fact that clients usually relate waiting time to the kind of service they are going to receive or clients liking to receive a service with minimal waiting time, making them satisfied without considering the quality of services.

HIV-testing and -counseling guidelines for PMTCT recommend that both pretest and posttest counseling be offered by the same counselor. Keeping the same provider in pre- and post-HIV–test counseling helps to secure client confidentiality and privacy and ensure client satisfaction.^40,41 Receiving pre- and post-HIV test counseling from the same provider is positively associated with client satisfaction with PMTCT services.^23,26,31,39 This study used a validated and standardized questionnaire that had been tested and revised to assess client satisfaction with PMTCT services, and we also observed specific client–provider interaction while delivering services. However, the scope is limited in addressing all factors that can probably affect client satisfaction with PMTCT services.

Conclusion

Client satisfaction with PMTCT services was relatively high. However, more than half of the participants were not satisfied with availability of laboratory services. No formal education, primary education, receiving services from a hospital, with the same counselor in pretest and posttest HIV counseling, and gestational age above first trimester were positively associated with client satisfaction with PMTCT services. Furthermore,waiting time ≤15 minutes was positively associated with PMTCT-service satisfaction. Therefore, mentoring and supportive supervision of health centers with PMTCT programs, ensuring availability of supplies and equipments for necessary laboratory investigations, and providing pre- and posttest HIV counseling by the same provider would improve clients’ PMTCT satisfaction. Moreover, there should be an increase in the number of skilled PMTCT-service providers to further optimize quality in general and speed up service delivery in particular.