Women’s Satisfaction and Perceived Quality of Emergency Obstetric Care: Mixed-Methods Multi-centre Study

Abstract Introduction : Patient satisfaction and perceived quality of care are important indicators of effective and respectful emergency obstetric care (EMOC). However, evidence integrating women’s experiences with healthcare providers’ perspectives remains limited in Nigeria. This study aimed to assess women’s satisfaction and perceived quality of emergency obstetric care and explore patient and provider perspectives at two hospitals in Benin City. Methods A mixed-methods study was conducted among 228 postpartum women who experienced obstetric emergencies at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital and Edo Specialist Hospital in Benin City, Nigeria. Quantitative data were collected using a modified Person-Centered Maternity Care scale and analysed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square/Fisher’s exact tests and logistic regression. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Qualitative data were obtained from one per-centre focus group discussion involving women who had received emergency obstetric care and key informant interviews with healthcare workers, including doctors and midwives. Qualitative data were thematically analysed and triangulated with the quantitative findings. Results Overall, 92.1% of women reported high satisfaction, while 90.8%, 90.8% and 92.5% reported high dignity and respect, communication and autonomy, and supportive care, respectively. Operative delivery independently increased the odds of poor satisfaction (AOR = 4.459; 95% CI:1.254–15.861; p = 0.021). Qualitative findings confirmed generally positive experiences but revealed challenges relating to staff attitude, communication, staffing shortages, infrastructure, financial barriers and postoperative support. Conclusion Despite high satisfaction with emergency obstetric care, important workforce, infrastructural, financial, communication and respectful-care challenges persisted. Addressing these barriers is essential to improving women’s experiences and strengthening quality, patient-centred emergency obstetric care in resource-limited settings.