BackgroundClient satisfaction surveys are important in evaluating quality of the healthcare processes and contribute to health service improvements by assisting health program managers to develop appropriate strategies. The goal of this study was to assess clients' level of satisfaction with services provided by private-not-for-profit member health facilities affiliated to Uganda Protestant Medical Bureau.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional descriptive study using an interviewer-administered questionnaire conducted in 254/278 (91%) of UPMB member health facilities between 27th April and 14th July 2014 among 927 clients. The tool measured ten dimensions of the care-seeking experience namely; health facility access; waiting time; health providers; support staff; rights; payments; facilities and environment; consent; confidentiality; and the overall care seeking experience. Logistic regression was utilised for multivariate analysis.ResultsOverall client satisfaction was found to be high within the UPMB network (84.2%). Most of the client satisfaction dimensions were rated above 70% except payments and rights. There was evidence of association with marital status; single/never married were 3.05 times more likely to be dissatisfied compared to widowed. Clients attending HCIII were less likely to be dissatisfied compared to those attending HCII (OR=0.51, 95% CI: 0.25–1.05). Post-secondary education (OR=1.79; 95% CI 1.01–3.17), being formally employed (OR=2.78, 95% CI: 0.91–8.48) or unemployed (OR=3.34, 95% CI: 1.00–11.17), attendance at a hospital (OR=2.15, 95% CI: 1.36– 3.41) were also associated with high dissatisfaction levels with payments.ConclusionThis study found a high level of satisfaction with services in the UPMB network but recorded low client satisfaction with the dimensions of rights and payments. Health workers should take time to explain rights and entitlement as well as charges levied to clients.

Background: Family planning confers unique benefits including preventing unintended pregnancies, improving maternal and child health outcomes, and increasing women's access to education and economic opportunities. However, Uganda has a low contraceptive prevalence rate of only 30%, and progress in improving maternal and child health outcomes is slow. Objective: This assessment explores community health workers' and facility-based health workers' qualitative perspectives on the use of contraceptives in the Iganga and Kaliro districts in Eastern Central Uganda. Methods: The baseline assessment used a qualitative approach with a focused sample of community-and facility-based health workers aged 20-60 years. Two focus group discussions with Community Health Workers and four key informant interviews with facility-based health workers were conducted. Thematic content analysis was done manually. Results: The main factors influencing contraceptive use in these communities were preference for large families, perceived inadequate knowledge of family planning and fear of side effects, inadequate spousal and family support, male domination and risk of violence, divorce and polygamy, inadequate human resource capacity and low motivation, and user fees. Conclusion:The study findings suggest that there is low use of contraceptives for family planning in the Kaliro and Iganga districts in Uganda. Recommendations include developing a strong focus in exploring policy options to build the capacities of trained health workers to offer long-term methods in order to increase the availability of family planning options. Family planning interventions should increase the availability of contraceptive methods using gender-sensitive strategies, including community mobilization.