Respectful maternity care: a comparative exploration of mothers’ knowledge and experiences in Meghalaya

Gayatree Devi; Catherine Eva Myrthong; K. Rosema Kom

doi:10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20254025

Authors

Gayatree Devi Department of Community Health Nursing, College of Nursing, North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS), Shillong, Meghalaya, India
Catherine Eva Myrthong Department of Community Health Nursing, College of Nursing, North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS), Shillong, Meghalaya, India https://orcid.org/0009-0000-0221-7017
K. Rosema Kom Department of Community Health Nursing, College of Nursing, North Eastern Indira Gandhi Regional Institute of Health and Medical Sciences (NEIGRIHMS), Shillong, Meghalaya, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20254025

Keywords:

Knowledge, Experience, Urban-rural comparison, Meghalaya, Respectful maternity care

Abstract

Background: Pregnancy and childbirth are vulnerable times for women, making respectful maternity care (RMC) essential to ensure safety, dignity, and autonomy. Despite global progress, mistreatment during childbirth remains common, affecting women's healthcare choices. This study assessed mothers’ knowledge and experiences of RMC in selected healthcare facilities in Meghalaya, India, comparing urban and rural settings and exploring the link between their knowledge and experiences.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional comparative study was conducted between January 15 and February 10, 2024, among 120 mothers in selected healthcare facilities. A structured questionnaire assessed knowledge, while the Indian person-centered maternity care scale evaluated experiences. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, independent t-tests, and correlation coefficients.

Results: The study revealed that 65.8% of mothers had poor knowledge regarding respectful maternity care, with urban mothers showing significantly lower knowledge levels compared to rural mothers (p≤0.012). However, 86.7% of mothers reported positive experiences with respectful maternity care, with no notable difference between urban and rural mothers (p=0.287). A weak positive correlation (r=0.17) was identified between mothers’ knowledge and their experiences of RMC.

Conclusions: The findings emphasize a knowledge gap regarding respectful maternity care among mothers, especially in urban areas, despite overall positive experiences. Increasing awareness and education on RMC is essential. Introducing ongoing quality improvement efforts and feedback systems in healthcare facilities can further strengthen respectful maternity care, ensuring the dignity and rights of all childbearing women are respected.

Metrics

Metrics Loading ...

References

World Health Organization. The prevention and elimination of disrespect and abuse during facility-based childbirth. 2014. Available from: http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/134588/1/WHO_RHR_14.23_eng.pdf. Accessed on 4 April 2024.

World Health Organization. WHO recommendations: Intrapartum care for a positive childbirth experience. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2018 Available from: https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/260178/9789241550215-eng.pdf. Accessed on 24 November 2023.

United Nations Human Rights Special Procedure. Women’s autonomy, equality and reproductive health in international human rights: between recognition, backlash and regressive trends. Geneva: United Nations; 2017

The Lancet Maternal Health Series. The Lancet maternal health series 2016. Available from: https://www.thelancet.com/series-do/maternal-health-2016. Accessed on 17 March 2023.

The White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood. Respectful maternity care: The universal rights of childbearing women. Washington, D.C.: White Ribbon Alliance; 2018.

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. LaQShya guidelines. New Delhi: National Health Mission. 2017. Available from: https://nhm.gov.in/New_Updates_2018/NHM_Components/RMNCH_MH_Guidelines/LaQshya-Guidelines.pdf. Accessed on 17 March 2023.

World Health Organization. WHO recommendation on respectful maternity care during labour and childbirth. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2020.

Shwetha K, Yadav A, Jeetu. Impact of respectful maternity care and its outcome in a childbearing woman. Int J Reprod Contracept Obstet Gynecol. 2023;12:1610-5. DOI: https://doi.org/10.18203/2320-1770.ijrcog20231523

UNICEF. Maternal health. New York: UNICEF; 2021. Available from: https://www.unicef.cn/en/topics/maternal-health. Accessed on 8 March 2024.

Singh A, Chhugani M, James M. Direct observation on respectful maternity care in India: a cross-sectional study on health professionals of three different health facilities in New Delhi. Int J Sci Res. 2018;7(5):821.

Nawab T, Erum U, Amir A, Khallque N, Ansari MA, Chauhan. Disrespect and abuse during facility-based childbirth and its sociodemographic determinants- a barrier to healthcare utilization in rural population. J Fam Med Prim Care. 2019;8:239-45. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_247_18

Alageswari A, Dash MB, Chitra AF. Knowledge and perception of postnatal mothers on respectful maternity care- an explorative study. Merit Res J Med Med Sci. 2019;7(3):106-11.

Neupane S, Sharma S, Karki S, Shrestha S. Perception regarding respectful maternity care among postnatal mothers at tertiary centre hospital, Koshi Province. J Nobel Med Coll. 2023;12(1):33-8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3126/jonmc.v12i1.56283

Poudel S, KC D, Shrestha S. Perceived experience of respectful maternity care among mothers attending a selected teaching hospital of Kaski district. JGMC Nepal. 2022;15(1):74-9. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3126/jgmcn.v15i1.43719

Afulani PA, Diamond-Smith N, Phillips B, Singhal S, Sudhinaraset M. Validation of the person-centered maternity care scale in India. Reprod Health. 2018;15(1):147. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12978-018-0591-7