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Assessing the Quality of Reproductive Health Services in Egypt via Exit Interviews

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Abstract

Background: This study assesses the quality of reproductive health services using client satisfaction exit interviews among three groups of primary health care units run by the Ministry of Health and Population of Egypt. Each group applied a different model of intervention. The Ministry will use the results in assessing its reproductive health component in the health sector reform program, and benefits from the strengths of other models of intervention. Methods: The sample was selected in two stages. First, a stratified random sampling procedure was used to select the health units. Then the sample of female clients in each health unit was selected using the systematic random approach, whereby one in every two women visiting the unit was approached. All women in the sample coming for reproductive health services were included in the analysis. Results: The results showed that reproductive health beneficiaries at the units implementing the new health sector reform program were more satisfied with the quality of services. Still there were various areas where clients showed significant dissatisfaction, such as waiting time, interior furnishings, cleanliness of the units and consultation time. The study showed that the staff of these units did not provide a conductive social environment as other interventions did. A significant proportion of women expressed their intention to go to private physicians owing to their flexible working hours and variety specializations. Conclusion: Beneficiaries were generally more satisfied with the quality of health services after attending the reformed units than the other types of units, but the generalization did not fully apply. Areas of weakness are identified.

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Acknowledgments

This research article is a product of the Project titled “Reproductive Health Interventions in Egypt: An Assessment Study, Phase 1” funded by the FORD foundation and is part of the activities of the Reproductive Health Working Group. The study was implemented by the Egyptian Society for Population Studies and Reproductive Health chaired by Hind A.S. Khattab, Ph.D. Hassan H.M. Zaky, Ph.D. was the P.I. of the Project. The authors wish to express their special thanks to the Ministry of Health and Population for their full cooperation, to FORD foundation for their generous support, and to the reviewers for their valuable comments and careful review of the article.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Social Research Center of the American University in Cairo and Faculty of Economics and Political Science at Cairo University, Cairo University and American University, 113 Kasr El Aini St., P.O. Box 2511, Cairo, 11511, Egypt

    Hassan H. M. Zaky Ph.D.

  2. Egyptian Society for Population Studies and Reproductive Health, 3 Orabi St. Maadi, Cairo, Egypt

    Hind A. S. Khattab Ph.D. & Dina Galal MD, MPH

Authors
  1. Hassan H. M. Zaky Ph.D.
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  2. Hind A. S. Khattab Ph.D.
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  3. Dina Galal MD, MPH
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Correspondence to Hassan H. M. Zaky Ph.D..

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Zaky, H.H.M., Khattab, H.A.S. & Galal, D. Assessing the Quality of Reproductive Health Services in Egypt via Exit Interviews. Matern Child Health J 11, 301–306 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-006-0167-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10995-006-0167-y

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