Recorded presentation

Marwa Osama Kamel¹, Khaled Hassan Nada, MD, MSc, MA¹, and Amina Hassan Loutfy, MD, MSc². (1) Healthy Mother/Healthy Child, John Snow, Inc., 21 Misr Helwan Agricultural Rd., 10th floor, Maadi, Cairo, Egypt, 011-2-02-359 1487, mkamel@jsiegypt.com, (2) Ministry of Health and Population, Egypt, Healthy Mother/Healthy Child, 21 El Sabaa Sakayat St, Kasr el Eini, Cairo, Egypt

Despite increasing need for maternal and child public health services in Egypt, women are choosing to access them less frequently. Previous studies suggest a positive relationship between quality of care and utilization of services.

The purpose of this study was to define quality care in Upper Egypt from the client perspective and determine if services would be used more frequently if improved to meet client standards. Focus group discussions and in-depth interviews were conducted with mothers or expectant mothers who use either public or private facilities. The women were asked about factors that determine their perception of the quality of care, what type of provider is chosen and why.

Respondents indicated that their expectations for "quality service" included a physician examination, simple explanation of the client’s condition and a prescription that could be filled in the health facility. They also valued privacy during exams, respectful treatment, reasonable waiting times and more thorough exams.

This presentation will include action-oriented recommendations for improving maternal and child health services. Results of this study will be used to develop performance standards for physicians providing health services of mothers in Upper Egypt.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify three key indicators that affect client satisfaction of maternal and child health services in Egypt.
• Appreciate the importance of defining quality standards from the client perspective to increase utilization of maternal and child health services.
• Identify two recommendations that will improve maternal and child health services.

Keywords: Quality of Care, Utilization

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Recorded presentation