Respectful maternity care: the need to create awareness

Dear Editor,

I recently started my PhD work on Respectful Maternity Care (RMC). Scenarios and case studies showed me that lack of RMC is beyond what I imagined. ‘RMC puts stress, interest and concern on women’s autonomy, dignity, privacy, confidentiality, feelings, choices, preferences and companionship during maternity care. It also implies continuous care during labour and childbirth without causing harm.’ ¹

The purpose of RMC is to safeguard women’s rights and protect them from ill treatment, thus avoiding ill effects on the health of both mother and newborn in the short and long term. Global data show that the prevalence of ill treatment is in the range of 15%–98%. ²

I realised that often no one else notice or are aware or sometimes even ignore the fact that women have been disrespected, ill-treated or even abused. Hence, many women avoid health facilities, avoid seeking treatment, delay treatment or even prefer delivering at home. ¹ Women are not empowered and remain silent, thinking that further ill treatment or denial of proper treatment will come their way if they complain.

Awareness in the community on this issue needs to be improved. This can be achieved by involving community leaders and through active community participation. Women should understand that they have a right to share their experience, to register complaints and to demand quality respectful care. Being abused, threatened or detained in health facilities should not be normal situations. Campaigns and methods of registering complaints are needed. RMC charters should be displayed at all facilities and RMC practices made compulsory.

The White Ribbon Alliance initiated a campaign on ‘What Women Want’. ³ This gave women the right to voice their opinion and made them and others aware of their basic human rights. Such initiatives definitely help in bringing about a change in awareness. In addition, regular training of healthcare providers, with audit, supervision, monitoring and evaluation of RMC at health facilities are essential.

Such programmes are needed now at public and private health facilities, not just in India but worldwide.

Supplemental Material

sj-pdf-1-tdo-10.1177_0049475520946151 - Supplemental material for Respectful maternity care: the need to create awareness

Supplemental material, sj-pdf-1-tdo-10.1177_0049475520946151 for Respectful maternity care: the need to create awareness by Humaira Ansari and Rajiv Yeravdekar in Tropical Doctor