Respectful

Maternity Care
 At the end of this session, students will be
able :

• To understand the components of

Respectful Maternity Care
• To analyze the WHO’s policy on Respectful
OBJECTIVES Care and the Ministry of Health policy on
Compassionate Care
• To state the nurses’ role in ensuring that all
women are respected during childbirth
Respectful maternity care (RMC) is a
universal human right due to every
childbearing woman in every health
system around the world.
HISTORIC BACKGROUND
1975    Birth of the Humanizing Childbirth movement
(Brazil)
1985    WHO/PAHO conference on appropriate technology
for birth (Brazil)
1996    Mother-Friendly Childbirth Initiative (USA)
2000    First international conference on  Humanizing
Childbirth in Fortaleza (Brazil)
2010    USAID/URC–supported Landscape Analysis on
abuse and disrespect in childbirth care
2011    Respectful maternity care charter, White Ribbon
Alliance (WRA)
Components of
Respectful Maternity
Care (RMC)
RMC encompasses the respect for
women’s basic human rights that
includes respect for women's
autonomy, dignity, feelings,
choices, and preference, including
companionship during maternity
care. (Methodology et al., 2022).
Components of
Respectful
Maternity Care
(RMC)
• Dignified care
This is providing care that upholds the
person's self-respect by acknowledging
their abilities and objectives.
(Methodology et al., 2022).
• Consented care
Permission is given by the patient
before care and medical treatment.

• Confidential care
The patient’s information is kept in
private and not shared with anyone
unless given permission from the
patient.
• Non-abandonment in care
This is where the health care
provider should have a caring
relationship with the
patient.(Methodology et al., 2022).
• No physical abuse
Ensure no harm is done to the patient.

• No abuse related to cost

There should be equity in the financial
aspect for each patient.

• Equity in access
Each patient should receive fair and equal
treatment.(Methodology et al., 2022).
( 2 02 1
)
RESPECTFUL MATERNITY
CARE PROMOTES:
• Respect for beliefs, traditions and culture
• Empowerment of the woman and her
family to become active participants in
health care
• Continuous support during labor
• Choice of companion during labor
and birth
• The right to information and privacy
• Freedom of movement during labor
RMC PROMOTES:
• Choice of position during birth.
• Good communication between client and
provider.
• Support of the mother-baby pair.
• Improvement of working conditions and
respectful and collaborative relationships
among all cadres of health workers.
• Prevention of disrespect, abuse and
institutional violence against women.
Respectful Maternity
Care Can Be
Life-Saving
• RMC is lifesaving— women
have the right to refuse care
and may refuse to seek care
from a provider who abuses
them or does not treat them
well, even if the provider is
skilled in preventing and
managing complications.
Respectful Maternity
Care:
Recognizes Multiple
Stakeholders

• Respect for women’s rights and

preferences
• Appreciation, compensation and
respect for health care providers
• Central involvement of women
– community and national leaders
– in planning and evaluating
maternal health programs
“Every woman has the
right to the highest
attainable standard of
health, which includes
the right to dignified,
respectful health
care.”
Each woman has the privilege of
the highest level of well-being,
which incorporates the option for
medical services all through
pregnancy and labour, as well as
the option to be liberated from
harm and isolation.
Abuse, neglect or disrespect
during childbirth can amount to
a violation of a woman’s
fundamental human
rights,standards and principles.
In order to prevent and eliminate
disrespect and abuse during
facility-based childbirth globally.

There are five main policies that WHO

promotes:

1. Greater support from governments

and development partners for
research and action on disrespect and
abuse.
2. Initiate, support and
sustain programs designed
to improve the quality of
maternal health care, with a
strong focus on respectful
care as an essential
component of quality care.
Greater action needed to
give women better
maternity health care.

3. Emphasizing the rights of

women to dignified,
respectful health care
throughout pregnancy and
childbirth. More human
rights awareness and
enforcement needed for
maternity care.
4.Generating data
related to respectful
and disrespectful care
practices, systems of
accountability and
meaningful
professional support
are required.
5.Involve all stakeholders,
including women, in
efforts to improve quality
of care and eliminate
disrespectful and abusive
practices.
The Ministry of Health (MoH), the Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton, has embarked upon
improving care and services delivered in all hospitals, health clinics and community
health programmes by introducing a patient- centred approach to be adopted in the
health system.
(Ministry of Health and Wellness,2018)
The Ministry of Health has shifted
how the health system currently
functions, to one which prioritizes
a patient-centered environment.

Focusing on the preparation of

staff and stakeholders for a
change in the practices and
approach to patients. (Ministry of
Health and Wellness,2018)
An important consideration for patient-centred
care is the patient’s physical comfort and his/her
psychological well-being while in the care of
doctors, nurses and other providers of health
services within health facilities.
An example is the facilities (patient waiting and
consultation areas and lavatory) at the Victoria
Jubilee Hospital Outpatient Antenatal Clinic were
upgraded. (Ministry of Health and Wellness.
,2017)
A number of agencies that
have taken part or expressed
an interest in Compassionate
Care initiative:

• The Women’s Resource and Outreach Centre

(WROC) under the leadership of the
Department of Community Health and
Psychiatry
• University of the West Indies, has expressed
commitment and solidarity with
Compassionate Care. Their main focus and
participation is geared towards women and
children.
• The Department of Community Health and
Psychiatry will itself focus on the general
health and wellbeing of the patient.
• The Jamaica Council of Churches and their
counterpart the World Council of Churches
have given their commitment to fostering
Compassionate Care.
The nurses’ role in
ensuring that all
women are respected
during childbirth
The role of the nurse in ensuring all
women are respected during
childbirth involves:
• Including the woman in
conversations that involve her.
This gives the woman reassurances
as well as a sense of being more in
control.
• Being an educator- Educating
ensures that the woman
understands what is being
taught to be adequately
informed on the do’s and don'ts.
• Ensuring privacy- To help the
woman in feeling more
comfortable and maintaining
dignity.
(US National Library of Medicine
2018)
Ensuring the woman’s autonomy-
By upholding the woman’s right to
choose and having the opportunity
to make her own decisions. This will
also aid in establishing trust.
Advocate- Taking action in order to
protect and support her wellbeing.
Supporter – By providing a calm and
reassuring environment to promote
comfort both emotionally and
physically.
Gaining consent- Ensuring that
informed consent is obtained
before doing any procedure will
provide the woman with
information relevant to their
decision-making.

(US National Library of Medicine

2018)
Respectful Maternity
Care Charter
 References
International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics(2021) FIGO Statement: Ethical Framework for Respectful
Maternity Care During Pregnancy and Childbirth.
www.figo.org/resources/Figo-statements/ethical-framework-respectful-maternity-care-during-pregnancy-and-childbirth

Lavender, T., Bedwell, C., Kasengele, C. T., Kimaro, D., Kuzenza, F., Lyangenda, K., Mills, T. A., Nsemwa, L., Shayo,
H., Tuwele, K., Wakasiaka, S., & Laisser, R. (2021). Respectful care an added extra: a grounded theory study exploring
intrapartum experiences in Zambia and Tanzania. BMJ Global Health, 6(4), e004725.
https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2020-004725

Methodology, B. M. C. M. R., Matters, R. H., Childbirth, B. M. C. P. and, Health, R., Hindu, T., Alliance, W. R., Radio,
C. P., & Times, T. N. Y. (2022, August 5). Respectful maternity care. Maternal Health Task Force., from
https://www.mhtf.org/topics/respectful-maternity-care/
 References
• Ministry of Health. (2017). Highlights of Key Initiatives. Ministry of
Health and Wellness.
https://www.moh.gov.jm/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/MoH-Highlig
hted-Achievement-FY2017-18.pdf

• Ministry of Health and Wellness. (2018). Care With Compassion-

Health Ministry Aims to Improve Customer Experience – Ministry of
Health & Wellness, Jamaica. Www.moh.gov.jm.
https://www.moh.gov.jm/care-with-compassion-health-ministry-aims
-to-improve-customer-experience/
 References
• Shakibazadeh, E., Namadian, M., & Bohren, M. A. (2017, November
8). Respectful care during childbirth in Health Facilities Globally: A ...
Obstetrics and Gynecology
https://obgyn.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/1471-0528.15015

• World Health Organization. (2019). The prevention and elimination of

disrespect and abuse during facility-based childbirth. World Health
Organization.
https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/134588/WHO_RHR_14.2
3_eng.pdf

• US National Library of Medicine.National Center for Biotechnology

information. (2018) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK304186/.
Names of the group 14 members
Romesha Ricketts
Samantha Rufus
Tashoy Simms
Tarashae Stone
Jenelle Tulloch
Shontae Welch
Shania Williams