Women’s Satisfaction with Immediate Postnatal Care and Associated Factors Among Mothers Who Gave Birth at Public Hospital, in South West Shoa, Ethiopia, 2023: Mixed-method Study

Background: The first 24 hours following delivery are referred to as the immediate postnatal phase. The first 24 hours following birth account for a significant fraction of mother and newborn fatalities. Regardless of the circumstances surrounding their delivery, providing prompt postnatal care lowers maternal and newborn mortality and morbidity. There was limited evidence on immediate postnatal maternal satisfaction among mothers who gave birth in public hospitals in South West Shoa. Therefore, this study was conducted using a mixed-methods approach to assess maternal satisfaction with immediate postnatal care and to explore underlying factors influencing their experiences. Objectives: To assess women`s satisfaction with immediate postnatal care and associated factors among mothers who gave birth at Public Hospital, in South West Shoa, Ethiopia, 2023. Methods: A facility-based, cross-sectional study design supplemented by a qualitative study / convergent study design/ was conducted among 403 mothers for the quantitative study and 17 women for the qualitative study. Purposive and systematic sampling methods technique was used to select study participants for the qualitative and quantitative study, respectively. EpiData version 3.1 was used for data entry, then exported to statistical package for social science. Multivariable logistic regression models were used for study variables with p-values less than 0.25. In the multivariable model, the adjusted odds ratio and its 95% confidence interval were calculated, and a p-value of less than 0.05 was deemed statistically significant. Thematic analysis was used to examine qualitative data. Graphs, tables, and text were used to display the results. Results: A total of 403 participants were recruited for the study, of whom 394 mothers completed the interview, yielding a response rate of 97.77%. The overall proportion of women satisfied with immediate postnatal care was 242 (61.4%) [95% CI: 57%–66%]. Birth plan (AOR = 2.02; 95% CI: 1.16–3.51). Labor duration (AOR = 1.73; 95% CI: 1.09–2.76). Women who experienced complications (AOR = 2.42; 95% CI: 1.15–5.10), and initiating breastfeeding (AOR = 1.86; 95% CI: 1.12–3.11). Conclusion and Recommendation: Over 50% of women expressed satisfaction with the immediate postnatal care they received. Managers of healthcare institutions and medical professionals collaborate closely to increase postpartum mom satisfaction.