Abstract
Purpose
Even though referral is a major public health issue in the sub-Saharan countries including Ethiopia, there is limited data particularly in the study area. So, this study was aimed to assess client satisfaction with referral service and associated factors.
Objective
To assess client satisfaction to referral service and associated factors among Health Centers in Tigray, Ethiopia, 2019.
Methods and Materials
This was an institutional-based cross-sectional study carried out among Health Centers selected using simple a random sampling technique from February 2019 to April 2019. A total of 421 referred individuals were proportionally allocated to eight health centers and interviewed using pretested 5-point Likert scale structured questionnaire. After data collection, it was entered using Epi Info then transferred to Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) for the purpose of analysis. Factors associated with the satisfaction toward referral service were assessed using binary logistic regression. Statistically significant variables at the bivariate logistic regression analysis were regarded as nominees for multivariable analysis. The strength of the association of factors with satisfaction toward referral was determined by computing crude odds ratio (COR) and the adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI). P-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results
In this study, 47% of referred patients were satisfied with the referral of Health Centers. Residence (AOR=2.2 CI=1.3, 1.5), age (AOR=3.1 CI =2.3, 6.4), and educational status (AOR=2.1 CI =1.7, 4.9) were statistically significant factors.
Conclusion
Significant clients were dissatisfied with the referral of Health Centers. Age, educational status, and residences were statistically significant factors. So, the Health Centers management and health care provider should work to reduce time spent to get a referral, reduce challenges in the referral process, increase helping and giving responsibility for the referred clients, improve communication.
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Data Sharing Statement
The datasets used for this study are available from the corresponding author (Fre Gebremeskel) on reasonable request.
Ethical Approval and Consent to Participate
The Research and Ethical Committee of the School of Public Health, Addis Ababa University approved this study. The notification code number given to the Title was ERC/006/2019. A formal letter was submitted to Tigray Health Bureau and Health Centers. After getting permission from the Tigray Health Bureau, informed consent was obtained from all participants of the study before the interview which clearly describing the privacy of the respondents, the right to anonymity, right to refuse, confidentiality was secured all the time. Besides, those respondents were also briefed about the aim and benefit of the study. Collected data was stored in different areas not to lose it was stored in a secured place to secure confidentiality, and backup of the data was used. Therefore, this study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki.
Consent for Publication
Consent for publication is not applicable.
Acknowledgments
We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to the data collectors for their cooperation throughout the data collection time and also for all study participants for providing us their information.
Disclosure
The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.