Compassionate Health Care Service and Associated Factors among Mothers Attending Public Hospitals of East Hararge Zone

Background: Respectful and compassionate care is a holistic, non-judgmental, empathetic, respectful and empowering concept of quality of healthcare. In Ethiopia, a significant proportion of health professionals see patients as just ‘cases’ and do not show compassion. This study assessed respectful and compassionate healthcare service and associated factors in public Hospitals in East Hararghe Zone in Ethiopia. Methods: Hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 423 clients visiting maternity care units in three public hospitals at East Hararghe Zone in Eastern Ethiopia from February 23 April 24, 2020. Pretested structured questionnaire was used to collect data from participants through face to face interview. Data were entered into EpiData version 3.1 and analyzed by SPSS version 24. Descriptive statistics were used to determine the level of compassionate health care and the characteristics of participants. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to identify factors associated with the outcome variable. Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) and 95% CI were used to report association and significance was declared at P < 0.05. Results: A total of 417 (98.6%) participants were involved in the study. Two hundred ninety-nine (71.7%) participants received disrespect and abusive maternity care (95% CI: 66.9%, 76.0%). Age ≥ 45 years (AOR = 1.89, 95% CI: 0.37, 3.86), formal education (AOR = 1.75, 95% CI: 1.10, 2.81), Abnormal delivery (AOR = 0.54, 95% CI: 0.34, 0.87) and Staying in facility (AOR = 2.86, 95% CI: 1.76, 4.63) significantly associated with disrespect and abusive care. Conclusion and Recommendation: Overall level of disrespect and abuse was common. Family monthly income, number of ANC visit, length of stay and type of health facility were some of factors associated with disrespect and abuse. High prevalence of disrespect and abuse in maternity care at health facilities calls for strengthened action to provide quality of maternity care for all childbearing mothers. Further facility based research in both urban and rural area will be needed.