Why is respectful maternity care important?

RMC matters because disrespect and abuse are violations of women's rights, and because fear of mistreatment deters women from seeking and continuing skilled care - undermining efforts to reduce maternal and newborn mortality.

Respectful, supportive care improves the birth experience, encourages facility/skilled birth, supports physiological labour, and is linked to better outcomes.

Clinical relevance. RMC is integral to quality of care - it protects rights and encourages women to seek and continue skilled care.

More Detail

Importance of respectful maternity care

RMC is important on both rights and outcome grounds.

A rights issue

• Disrespect and abuse during childbirth violate women's human rights (to dignity, autonomy, freedom from harm, privacy, equity).

Effect on care-seeking

• Fear of mistreatment is a barrier to care - women may avoid or delay facility/skilled birth, or not return.
• This undermines the 'first delay' (deciding to seek care) and efforts to increase skilled birth attendance.

Effect on outcomes and experience

• Respectful, supportive care improves the birth experience and satisfaction.
• Continuous support reduces fear/anxiety (and catecholamines), supporting physiological labour and reducing intervention.
• Linked to better engagement with maternal services and outcomes.

Implication

• RMC is integral to quality of care - not an optional extra alongside clinical safety.