Striving for Respectful Maternity Care Everywhere.
Purpose The mistreatment of women during childbirth in health facilities is a growing area of research and public attention. Description In many countries, disrespect and abuse from maternal health providers discourage women from seeking childbirth with a skilled birth attendant, which can lead to poor maternal and neonatal outcomes. This commentary highlights examples from three countries-Kenya, Mexico and the United States-and presents different forms of mistreatment during childbirth, which range from physical abuse to non-consented care to discriminatory practices. Assessment Building on the momentum from the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics, and the Global and Maternal Neonatal Health Conference, the global community has placed respectful maternity care at the forefront of the maternal and neonatal health agenda. Conclusion Research efforts must focus on context-specific patient satisfaction during childbirth to identify areas for quality improvement.
Division of Women's Health, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 1620 Tremont St, OBC-34, Boston, MA, 02120, USA. rlmolina@partners.org.|Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA. rlmolina@partners.org.|Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. rlmolina@partners.org.
Rose L
RL
Molina
Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.|Division of Global Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
Suha J
SJ
Patel
Division of Women's Health, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 1620 Tremont St, OBC-34, Boston, MA, 02120, USA.|Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.|Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Jennifer
J
Scott
Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.|Division of Global Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
Julianna
J
Schantz-Dunn
Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.|Division of Global Obstetrics and Gynecology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
Nawal M
NM
Nour
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006268:Health Facilities; D006801:Humans; D007630:Kenya; D008427:Maternal Health Services / Q000592:standards; D008800:Mexico; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D058996:Quality Improvement; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D014481:United States; D014933:Women's Rights
Childbirth; Disrespect and abuse; Quality of care; Respectful maternity care