It is every woman's right to have respectful maternity care. Pregnancy is when they are in the most delicate and vulnerable period. Respectful maternity care should allow women to access maternity healthcare services with the utmost provision of treatment, care, honor, and excellence. It also aims to reduce maternal and neonatal mortalities. However, according to an article from ScienceDirect made by Kebede et al. (2021), maternal healthcare services have been in a roller coaster situation during the pandemic of COVID-19. Nevertheless, this universal human right that includes the principles of ethics and respect for women's feelings, dignity, choices, and preferences, has been a challenge to be given by healthcare institutions due to the increase in the number of women delivering at the same time (Pathak & Ghimire, 2020).
There is evidence that respectful maternity care has benefits during childbirth. This care encompasses the women's authority, dignity, feelings, choices, and preferences. Quality of care has a significant impact on the journey of pregnant women — they can remember it for a lifetime. However, unfortunately, according to an article from the World Health Organization, many women do not experience quality care. It has been a growing problem in the healthcare field up to this point. Women often experience disrespect and humiliation, including verbal abuse, discrimination, and physical abuse. Nevertheless, this does not stop as they also experience non-consented clinical care, non-confidential care, and non-dignified care. It is alarming that bare minimum care is not given to women who experience pain and stress during pregnancy or labor and delivery. Comfort should be given to them, but it is the first thing they cannot receive. Pregnant women are very vulnerable and emotional during this time, and it is not recommended for them to have an abusive environment.
Regardless of their status, color, nationality, and with or without diseases, conditions, and physical or mental disabilities, pregnant women and their babies should receive good care, respect, and the right to self-determination. The Article "Respectful Maternity Care: The Universal Rights of Childbearing Women" stated that all people in societies and governments should recognize fundamental human rights in the childbearing process. It aims to communicate the issue about the maternity care that most women receive. By providing a platform, improvements can be made by the following:
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Raising awareness of childbearing women's inclusion in the guarantees of human rights recognized in internationally adopted United Nations and other multinational declarations, conventions, and covenants;
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Highlighting the connection between human rights language and key program issues relevant to maternity care;
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Increasing the capacity of maternal health advocates to participate in human rights processes;
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Aligning childbearing women's sense of entitlement to high‐quality maternity care with international human rights community standards; and
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Providing a basis for holding the maternal care system and communities accountable to these rights.
Aside from these, each issue of disrespect and abuse has corresponding rights. These rights should be normalized and be given to have respectful maternity care. Moreover, this article should be easily accessible to the public, so they will be well-informed of their rights and be knowledgeable about this issue. Therefore, every woman has the right to be respected regardless of their situation and condition. Discrimination should be eliminated from the settings.
References:
Kebede, A. A., Taye, B. T., Wondie, K. Y., Tiguh, A. E., Eriku, G. A., & Mihret, M. S. (2021, May 31). Adherence to respectful maternity care guidelines during COVID-19 pandemic and associated factors among healthcare providers working at hospitals in northwest Ethiopia: A multicenter, observational study. Science Direct. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S221339842100138X
Pathak, P., & Ghimire, B. (2020, July 4). Perception of Women regarding Respectful Maternity Care during Facility-Based Childbirth. Hindawi. https://www.hindawi.com/journals/ogi/2020/5142398/
World Health Organization. (n.d.). RESPECTFUL MATERNITY CARE:. WHO | World Health Organization. Retrieved February 25, 2022, from https://www.who.int/woman_child_accountability/ierg/reports/2012_01S_Respectful_Maternity_Care_Charter_The_Universal_Rights_of_Childbearing_Women.pdf