Background: Quality of care for neonates is one of the key factors that contributes to the
survival of babies in the under-five group. So the assessment of the quality of care given at the
first 28 days of the baby’s life is very crucial and upon which improvement of health service
delivery can be undertaken. The Donabedian model of quality of care was adopted in the
assessment of quality of care (structure, processand output). The aim of the study is to explore
on the perceptions about mothers of new-borns, availability of adequate and skilled human
resources for neonatal care and equipment and care processes at the paediatric unit of the
University of Ghana Hospital Legon.
Method: The study was a cross-sectional survey employing both qualitative and quantitative
approaches. Exit interviews were carried out for 36 mothers whose neonate were admitted with
neonatal morbidities, in-depth interview was done with 14 staff of the paediatric ward to
analyse the availability of human workforce available for neonatal care delivery. Direct
observation was done using the Ghana Health Service observation guide to assess the
availability of equipment and care processes available. Descriptive analysis was done using
Stata version 12 and interviews done were coded into themes for analyses.
Result: Mother’s perception about care was portrayed by a high satisfaction index being
61.10% and their rate on neonatal care is 58.35%. Staff with skills in neonatal care were
inadequate. Some basic equipment’s for neonatal care were not available and some available
equipment were inadequate for neonatal care at the paediatric unit of the University of Ghana
Hospital Legon.
Conclusion: Mothers were dissatisfied with babies being put together with other babies in the
same ward and staff also complained of the same situation, lack of adequate staff and basic
equipment. It is recommended that the management get an intensive care unit with adequate
staff and equipment.