Search and read at least one article on Respectful Maternity Care and share readings by replying in this discussion forum.
During childbirth, many women experience a lack of respectful and abusive care across the globe (Pathak and Ghimire, 2020). Respectful maternity care is described as “a universal human right that encompasses the principles of ethics and respect for women’s feelings, dignity, choices, and preferences.”
The study of Pathak and Ghimire (2020) entitled, “Perception of Women regarding Respectful Maternity care during Facility-Based Childbirth” aimed to determine women’s perception of respectful maternity care (RMC) during facility-based childbirth. The researchers performed a cross-sectional study among 150 mothers admitted to the maternity ward of Nepal Medical College and Teaching Hospital by using a purposive sampling technique.
Difficulties associated with pregnancy and childbirth result in about 830 maternal deaths per day around the globe. In line with this, health institutions need to exert greater effort to enhance the quality of care provided to pregnant women along with their rights to noble and dutiful care. The behavior of a respectful health worker had the highest impact on women’s choice of health facility for labor. Furthermore, the healthcare providers’ lack of confidentiality, attitude, impoliteness, differentiation on cultural and religious backgrounds, physical abuse, retarded and slow care health service, and dirty facilities are other factors that women consider for not choosing a health facility for labor. The study also revealed the range of disrespect and abuse encountered by women during childbirth in health institutions:
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Physical Abuse
- Beating
- Slapping
- Pinching
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Undignified Care
- Yelling
- Chiding
- Humiliating comments
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Abandonment
- Leaving alone during different phases of delivery
- Leaving alone during different phases of delivery
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Discrimination
- Based on cultural groups
- Based on social status
- Based on age groups
- Restriction of facilities for nonfulfillment of fees
- Based on cultural groups
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After proving women's mistreatment during pregnancy and childbirth, the World Health Organization published a statement highlighting the provision of respectful maternity care as an essential quality of care.
The results of the study measured the level of perception of women on respectful maternity care during childbirth. The researchers utilized four dimensions of RMC: (1) Friendly care, (2) Abuse-free care, (3) Timely care, (4) Discrimination-free care. Consequently, almost three-fourths of the participants reported having experienced the overall dimension of RMC during their recent childbirth. Unfortunately, even though the United Nations’ universal rights of childbearing declare that every woman has the right to be treated with dignity and respect, 15% of the participants reported that they have not experienced the overall dimensions of RMC.
Moreover, the study also revealed that women received non-friendly care from not showing concern or empathy (24.7%) to not talking positively about pain and relief (28%). Physical abuse (23%) such as slapping or hitting and verbal abuse (30%) such as being shouted, on the other hand, contribute to traumatic birth experiences. 13.3% of the participants also strongly cited they were not treated fairly because of their personal attributes. Without questions asked, these kinds of attitudes affect birth outcomes negatively.
References:
Pathak, P., & Ghimire, B. (2020, July 4). Perception of women regarding respectful maternity care during facility-based childbirth. Obstetrics and Gynecology International. Retrieved March 19, 2022, from https://www.hindawi.com/journals/ogi/2020/5142398/