Clients' Perception of Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Services received before and during the COVID-19 Outbreak in Nigeria's Epicenter.

BACKGROUND

Since the emergence of COVID-19, countries have implemented measures to limit spread, which include movement restrictions. These measures led to poor or inadequate delivery of many health services, including maternal, neonatal and child health (MNCH) services. This study assessed clients' perception of routine MNCH services received from government health care facilities before and during the COVID-19 outbreak in Lagos, Nigeria's epicenter.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted among 1241 women of reproductive age selected by multistage sampling who had just received MNCH services across 12 primary, secondary or tertiary health facilities. Data was collected using interviewer-administered questionnaires and analyzed using STATA version SE15.1.

RESULTS

Before the COVID-19 outbreak, about half of the women perceived waiting time (50.7%), attention given to patients (53.0%), and respect given to patients (55.7%) as somewhat satisfactory. Fiftyfour percent of respondents said access to water was somewhat satisfactory. During the outbreak, 51.0% of the respondents said waiting time at the health facilities was shorter while over a third said attention given to patients (35.8%) and respect given to patients (35.8%) was better. Half of the respondents (50.7%) said access to water remained the same while 47.7% said it was better. Forty-one percent of respondents said overall quality of services became better during the outbreak.

CONCLUSION

To strengthen health systems for MNCH, the government should provide adequate water supply, optimal sanitation and hygiene facilities. Training of staff in provision of patient friendly MNCH services will go a long way to ensure sustained improvement in quality and also perception of care.