Background: Patient satisfaction, a measure of the extent to which a patient is content with the health care which he or she receives from his or her health care provider, is an effective means of evaluating the performance of a hospital leading to service improvement and attraction of more patients. In a country whose leadership currently calls for change of attitude of the citizenry, it is pertinent to assess how this change has been accepted in health institutions, especially among the most stigmatized group of patients, by assessing the latter's level of satisfaction with the quality of services provided. Objectives: The study, carried out over a period of six months (1st May to 30th October, 2016), assessed the satisfaction of patients with the quality of care provided at the psychiatric outpatient department of the Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Nigeria. Methods: Data were extracted from eligible participants using a sociodemographic/clinical profile questionnaire and the Charleston Psychiatric Outpatient Satisfaction Questionnaire. Results: 422 patients (53.6% males, 46.4% females) participated. Their mean age was 32.20 ± 11.35 years. Schizophrenia was the commonest diagnosis. The respondents appeared quite satisfied with the quality of services. Satisfaction with the helpfulness of the record officers was topmost in the administrative scale (92.9%) with satisfaction with the amount of time waited to be seen by doctor, the least (76.3%) while on the environmental scale, appearance of the doctor's consulting room was most satisfying (93.4%) and cost of service the least (73.5%). 90.5% were satisfied with the overall quality of service provided How to cite this paper:

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Background: Universal health coverage implies access to key promoting, preventive, curative, and rehabilitative health interventions for all at an affordable cost, thereby achieving equity in access and service. The mentally-ill belongs to a vulnerable group that has not been given adequate attention especially in the south-eastern part of Nigeria. In September 2015, a health summit was organized in Enugu, South-East Nigeria with the sole aim of strategizing towards achieving universal health coverage in the zone. From all indications, much of the efforts being made towards achieving universal health coverage in the zone are geared towards physical conditions with mental disorders being grossly neglected.