Assessment of Premarital Services Provided by Family Health Facilities in Alexandria Governorate, Egypt

Background: Premarital health services aim at promoting the health of couples as well as prevention of health hazards for both future parents and their offspring, thereby improving population health by reducing morbidity and mortality related to genetic and hereditary disorders. Objective(s): The study aimed to assess the resources and process of premarital care in Family Health Facilities (FHFs) as well as assessment of the satisfaction of attendees regarding the received premarital services in Alexandria Governorate, Egypt. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in all FHFs providing premarital services in Alexandria by using predesigned observational checklists to assess the availability of resources and the performance of all family physicians (FPs) providing premarital services. In addition, a total of 400 attendees for premarital services in the studied FHFs were interviewed for assessing their satisfaction regarding the received services using a predesigned structured questionnaire. Results: Around 90% of the needed non-human resources were available in the studied FHFs. The monthly physician/ attendees ratio varied between the FHFs, the lowest was 1:189 and the highest was 1:25. About one third (34.2%) of FPs were trained on premarital services in the studied FHFs. All observed FPs showed a good level of performance. Most of the participating attendees (96%) were highly satisfied with the services they received. Conclusion: In general, the provided premarital services in the studied FHFs were satisfactory and most of the study participants were highly satisfied with the received services.