A Descriptive Survey to assess the Prevalence of Respectful Maternity Care: A Pilot Study

Abstract

Women need to be supported in the period of pregnancy during the process of labour and delivery. All women have right for receiving respectful maternity care. But even today woman is not aware of her right. Many health facilities especially in middle income countries women have experiences about disrespectful maternity care. Quantitative study was conducted on health facilities of India by using of descriptive survey research design. Total 30 women’s was selected by using of purposive sampling method in which 10 antenatal women’s, 10 intranatal women and 10 postnatal women’s from selected hospital of Jabalpur district. The motive of this study was to assess the prevalence of respectful maternity care. Respectful maternity care standard assessment tools given by USAID were used to find out the present scenario of prevalence of respectful maternity carewhere seven domains are includes first domain is physical harm and ill treatment, second domain right to information, third domain right to confidentiality and privacy, fourth domain right to dignity and respect, fifth domain right to equitable care, six domain abandonment of care and seventh domain detention of facility. In this study revealed that experiences of antenatal women, intranatal women and postnatal women have never physically forced, abrasive behaviour, and hitting. In most of the scenario health care provider failed in giving right to information, informed consent. More specifically the need of self-introduction by the health care provider to women and her companion, provide enough knowledge to address their queries. Overall findings indicate that there is need to improve the quality of respectful maternity care in every maternity unit.