A cross-sectional study on the prevalence of respectful maternal care among postnatal women during facility-based childbirth in a tertiary care centre in Bihar, India
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20262280Keywords:
Bihar, Facility-based childbirth, India, Postnatal women, Prevalence, Respectful maternal care, Tertiary care centreAbstract
Background: Respectful maternal care (RMC) protects pregnant women’s rights to maintain dignity and respect, ensuring appropriate, supportive care and autonomy. This study aimed to explore the prevalence of RMC in a tertiary healthcare setting and investigate its association with sociodemographic and obstetric variables.
Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study design was conducted using a convenience sampling method. RMC was assessed among postnatal mothers using the standard Indian Person-Centred Maternity Care (PCMC) tool through face-to-face interviews conducted between mid-January and mid-March 2025. The data were analysed using SPSS version 25, calculating means±SD and frequency percentage distributions, and the chi-square test.
Results: In this study, it was found that the mean value of the PCMC score was 76.25% and 54% of women received adequate RMC. The most deficient domains were communication and autonomy, followed by supportive care. Women reported experiences of verbal abuse (23.3%), physical abuse (1.9%), feeling exposed with a lack of privacy during examinations (47%), providers never introducing themselves (36.7%), and delays in receiving treatment (78.1%). Moreover, 78.6% of women said they were never allowed to choose a birth companion during delivery. RMC was significantly associated with religion (p<0.05, df=1 at the 95% confidence level). It reflects the influence of religious diversity on experiences of disrespect.
Conclusions: The prevalence of RMC was only 54%. Therefore, healthcare providers require training to upgrade their communication skills and supportive care for women, which will improve access to quality public health services.
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