Respectful Maternity Care is the involvement of health care professionals in preserving women’s respect and providing essential information and emotional support during labor and birth. It is an essential strategy for determining the quality and utilization of maternal care. It is a universal right that encompasses the principles of ethics and respect for women’s feelings, dignity, choices, and preferences. The involvement of RMC makes it so that not only it emphasizes the fundamental rights of women, newborn, and families but also recognizes the unique needs and preferences of both women and newborns. Upholding RMC generally comprises of providing safe and timely care, nurturing positive interactions between midwives and women, protecting confidentiality, maintaining an active role in the labor process, obtaining the women’s consent before performing procedures, providing information regarding procedures to women, respecting patients privacy, and promoting freedom of choice as it related to position for labor and birth. From this, it can be said that upholding the RMC is an essential component in the improving quality of care and birth satisfaction.
This study takes place in Iran, and its purpose is to provide insight into Iranian midwives’ perspectives on RMC during labor and childbirth in non-teaching hospitals in Tehran. After the researchers performed qualitative methods of data collection, the results have shown three themes and seven subthemes derived from the midwives perception of the RMC during labor and birth which are showing empathy, women-centered care, and protecting rights. In showing empathy, it has emphasized the need for building trust and confidence in women. Women-centered care would be for providing the best care, prevention of complications, and providing of adequate information and consent on care. Protecting rights reflected the need to protect the dignity of the women through adequate privacy, confidentiality, equality, and provision of suitable environment.
Overall, the perception of the midwives indicate that RMC is a broader concept and not just by preventing disrespect and preserving women’s rights and dignity. This research, alongside with many article, have pointed out the same outcome about what women want in labor which is the kindness, respect, and safety which can be upholded through Respectful Maternity Care.
Hajian, S., Moridi, M., Pazandeh, F., Pazandeh, F., & Potrata, B. (2020). Midwives’ perspectives of respectful maternity care during childbirth: A qualitative study. Plos One (15)3, e0229941. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0229941