3. • Respectful maternity care (RMC) is a universal human right
due to every childbearing woman in every health system
around the world.
4. RMC encompasses the respect for women’s basic human rights that
includes respect for women’s autonomy, dignity, feelings, choices, and
preference, including companionship during maternity care.
7. 1. Every women has the right to be free from harm and ill treatment
• Women will not be abused physically by anyone. All types of physical
contact with pregnant women should be gentle, comforting and
supportive as possible. Despite the right of freedom from harm and ill
treatment. Many evidences of physical abuse have been reported all
over the world.
8. • Example of physical abuse during childbirth are from pinching by
service provider to sexual abuse. Similarly, others are: slapped,
restrained during labor, application of unnecessary episiotomy and
suturing without the use of anesthesia and pushing on the abdomen to
force the baby out.
9. 2. Every women has the right to information informed consent and
refusal and respect for her choices and preferences, including
companionship during maternity care
• Women should not be forces to do things without information and informed
consent.
• Explanation of proposed procedures in understandable language is necessary to
make them understand to provide consent or refuse a procedure.
• Examples of non-consented care are not giving women the proper information
about procedure, not taking permission to conduct obstetrical procedures (e.g.
caesarean section, episiotomies, blood transfusions, sterilization and augmentation
of labor) and coerced into such procedure such as cesarean section.
10. 3. Every women has the right to privacy and confidentiality
• Health care providers must protect the privacy and confidentiality of
patients and their information during counselling, physical
examinations, clinical procedures and while handling records and
information.
• Some examples of violations of privacy and confidentiality for
women in birthing center are delivering baby without privacy and
sharing sensitive information, such as patient’s marital status, HIV
status, medical history etc.
11. 4. Every women has the right to be treated with dignity and respect
• Pregnant women should not be humiliated and verbally abused by anyone
care providers must ensure patients as comfortable as possible during
procedures. Every women must be treated with respect and concern.
• They should be encouraged to express their idea feeling freely and provide
feedback to the service providers. Women’s perception and description of
non-dignified care may be very context specific because a women may
perceive eye contact, a smile and a handshake from male providers as
acceptable in one culture but not in another.
12. 5. Every women has the right to equality, freedom from
discrimination, and equitable care
• No one can discriminate because of something they do not like about
pregnant women.
• All women are equal and must be treated with respectful care
regardless of their ethic background, culture, social standing,
educational level and economic status.
• Examples of discrimination during childbirth may be based on race,
ethnicity, age, language, HIV status, traditional believes and
preferences, economical status or educational level.
13. 6. Every women has the right to health care and to the highest
attainable level of health care
• No one can prevent the women from getting the needed maternity
care.
• Women who is going to give birth should never be left alone however
sometimes they are neglected and left to deliver by themselves.
• Women should have companion of their choice throughout labor and
birth for continuous support.
14. Examples of abandonment of care in health facilities include; left alone
and not giving medical attention, giving birth by themselves or assisted
by other patients, not allowed companion into the birthing area and not
supervised by care provider even in life threatening situations.
15. 7. Every women has the right to liberty, autonomy, self determination
and freedom from coercion
No one can detain the child bearing women or her baby without legal
authority; some health facilities have been known to prevent women
from leaving with their babies, because they can not pay their bills. This
is usually only for a day or two, but there are reports of patients being
held for weeks and months. Even women whose babies died have been
detained because they could not pay their bills.
16. 8. Every child has right to be with their parents or guardians.
9. Every child has right to an identity and nationality from birth.
10. Everyone has the right to adequate nutrition and clean water
17. Benefits of RMC
• Respect for belief, traditions and cultures.
• Empowerment of women and her families to become active participants in
health care.
• Continuous support during labor.
• Choice of companion during labor and birth.
• The right to information and privacy.
• Freedom of movement during labor.
• Choice of position during birth.
• Good communication between client and providers.
18. • Support of the mother – baby pair.
• Improvement of working condition and respectful and collaborative
relationship among all cadres of health workers.
• Prevention of disrespect and abuse and institutional violence against
woman
