A Thesis Submitted to Jimma University, College of Public Health and Medical Sciences, Department of Health Education and Behavioral Sciences in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for a Masters of Public Health in Health Education and Promotion

Abstract

ackground: Urban health extension program is an innovative government plan to ensure health equity by creating demand for essential health services through the provision of appropriate health information at a household level. It aimed at improving community’s health status through their active participation and utilization of services, which depends on their satisfaction and acceptance of the program. However, there is no study done on community’s satisfaction on the services provided by urban health extension program in Ethiopia. Objective: To assess the level of community satisfaction on urban health extension program and factors associated with it in Hosanna town, South Ethiopia. Methods: Community based cross sectional study, using both quantitative and qualitative methods were employed from March 1-30/2013. The quantitative data were collected by using interviewer administered structured questionnaire to sample size of 407 respondents. Data analysis was done by using SPSS. Descriptive statistics, bivariate analysis and multiple regressions were employed and the result was described in words and figures. P-value less than 0.05 and 95% confidence interval was used to declare association between independent and the dependent variables. Qualitative data were collected through FGD with Kebele health committee members and model families in Hossana town. Results: 67.4% of the respondents were satisfied with services provided by urban health extension program. The study shows that communities’ perception on technical competency (ß=0.425; 95% CI 0.084, 0.34), interpersonal relationship (ß=0.506; 95% CI 0.216, 0.797), and perceived accessibility of service (ß=0.752; 95% CI 0.064, 0.86) were independent predictors of satisfaction (P<0.05). In addition, marital status, knowledge and attitude of respondents were also associated with satisfaction of the community. Conclusion and recommendation: The finding of this study showed that community’s perception on health extension workers interaction had a significant influence on satisfaction of the community as well as on the implementation of urban health extension program. Therefore, urban health extension professionals and Hossana town health officials should give more emphasis on the improvement of their relationship with the community to enhance utilization of service.