RESPECTFUL MATERNITY CARE
Search and read at least one article on Respectful Maternity Care and share readings by replying in this discussion forum.
Every childbearing woman possesses the right to respectful maternity care in which maternal support is given while recognizing individual dignity, and safety and ensuring access to information on the care received. With this, respectful maternity care (RMC) is an individual-centered approach based on ethical and human rights principles that encourage methods that consider women's preferences as well as women's and babies' necessities (Bulto et al, 2020). Inability to provide respectful maternity care would result in adverse experiences such as mistreatment, contempt, and prejudice, which may lead to negative health outcomes for women and their offspring.
In contrast, Bulto (2020) probes that disrespectful care comprises physical abuse, non-consented care, non-confidential care, non-dignified care, discrimination, abandonment of care, and forced detention. This abuse of women eventually leads to women refusing to use health facilities of their own volition, which is exacerbated by poor socioeconomic levels and a lack of health education. For instance, Sub-Saharan African nations' pieces of evidence indicate that women would prefer to deliver in a facility but do not do so owing to past experiences with unsatisfactory, unfavorable, and discourteous treatment in facilities.
Maternity care must provide women with the necessary quality care, including safe and courteous care established with a compassionate atmosphere. Respectful maternity care encourages them to adhere to medical advice and utilize health resources accessible which is crucial in eliminating health complications, pregnancy-related problems, and fatalities.
Bulto et al (2020) gives emphasis instigating the idea that one of the most significant strategies in lowering maternal morbidity and death is skilled help throughout pregnancy and delivery and this encapsulates respectful maternity care. In order to facilitate adherence to respectful maternity care the following strategies were recommended: (1) emphasizing the creation of awareness among care providers about the standards and categories of RMC, (2) improving care provider-client discussions, and (3) monitoring and reinforcing accountability mechanisms for health workers to avoid mistreatments during labor and childbirth.
As a future healthcare professional, I would always bear in mind this quote, “Compassion, kindness, and respect are the very essence of dignified care. We must make sure that these principles are the heart of everything we do.”
After all, every nurse is drawn to pursue nursing with the intent to care, help, and serve and this must be centered on my profession. In providing dignified care, I may be able to advocate for respectful maternity care and promote healthy childbearing procedures for mothers and thereby, accounting for favorable outcomes for their children in the future.
References:
Bulto et al (2020). Respectful maternity care during labor and childbirth and associated factors among women who gave birth at health institutions in the West Shewa zone, Oromia region, Central Ethiopia. https://bmcpregnancychildbirth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12884-020-03135-z#:~:text=Respectful%20maternity%20care%20(RMC)%20is,needs%20%5B1%2C%202%5D.
Homer, C., Bohren, M.A., Wilson, A., Vogel, J.P. (2021). Professional care and support before, during and after pregnancy. The Global Library of Women’s Medicine. DOI:10.3843/GLOWM.411763