Client satisfaction on maternal and child health services in rural Bengal

BACKGROUND: Services are being provided by health functionaries to the community with the objective of fulfilling their satisfaction but sometimes this is not working for the target population. OBJECTIVES: The study was conducted to assess the satisfaction of clients' receiving maternal and child health services and to elicit clients' suggestion for improving the services. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Anexit interview was employed to collect data using a predesigned and pretested schedule. RESULTS: Most of the populations were adult clients. In respect of satisfaction, responses of the clients were either satisfactory (54.31%) or good (23.56%) on maternal and child health services; 'poor or very poor around 20% and it was significantly worse in respect of satisfaction'. Most of the clients (63.06 to 73.94%) expressed their responses as satisfactory and good regarding the assessment of doctors and it was significant. Most of them (73.31%) expressed satisfactory "response" on the quality of services given by nursing staffs. Suggestions of clients for improving the level of satisfactionwere sought and in this respect, response was little. CONCLUSIONS: Mostly satisfactory observations on maternal and child health services were found in respect of clients' satisfaction and there was scope to improve the quality and quantity of services, and accordingly actions may be taken in the working field.