Beyond Maternal Mortality: A Systematic Review of Evidences on Mistreatment and Disrespect During Childbirth in Health Facilities in India

2019 ◽  
pp. 152483801988171
Author(s):  
Suresh Jungari ◽  
Baby Sharma ◽  
Dhananjay Wagh

The aim of this systematic review is to examine current evidence on the nature and extent of disrespect and abuse (D&A), mistreatment and practices of respectful maternity care of women during childbirth in India. Electronic databases were searched for published studies relevant to the topic. The search was conducted from May to September 2018. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were used to conduct the review. A results synthesis was done using the Bowser and Hill landscape analytical framework for D&A of women during childbirth. Eleven studies are included in this review of which six were cross-sectional, four were qualitative, and one used a mixed-method approach. The type of abuse most frequently reported was the lack of respect and dignity (nondignified care) experienced by the women, usually in the form of negative and unfriendly attitudes of the providers. The least frequent form of mistreatment was physical abuse and detention in the facilities. The frequency of reported D&A was high, ranging from 10% to 77.3%. These behaviors were influenced by lack of education and empowerment of the women, their low socioeconomic status, poor training of providers and supervision, and a lack of accountability. Overall, disrespectful and abusive behavior had adverse impact on the utilization of health facilities for childbirth. It created a psychological distance between women and health providers. To our knowledge, this is the first systematic literature review to be conducted on respectful maternity care in India.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yohannes Mehretie Adinew ◽  
Helen Hall ◽  
Amy Marshall ◽  
Janet Kelly

Abstract Background: Respectful maternity care is a fundamental human right, and an important component of quality maternity care that every childbearing woman should receive. Disrespect and abuse during childbirth is not only a violation of a women’s rights, it is associated with a reduction in the number of women accessing professional maternity services and increases the risk of maternal mortality. This study investigated women’s experience of disrespect and abuse during facility-based childbirth in Ethiopia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 435 randomly selected women who had given birth at public health facility within the previous twelve months in North showa zone of Ethiopia. A structured, researcher administered questionnaire was used with data collected using digital, tablet-based tools. Participants’ experiences were measured using the seven categories and verification criteria of disrespect and abuse identified by White Ribbon Alliance. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify the association between experience of disrespect and abuse and interpersonal and structural factors at p-value < 0.05 and OR values with 95% confidence interval. Results: All participants reported at least one form of disrespect and abuse during childbirth. Types of disrespect and abuse experienced by participants were; physical abuse 435(100%), non-consented care 423(97.2%), non-confidential care 288 (66.2%), abandonment/ neglect (34.7%), non-dignified care 126(29%), discriminatory care 99(22.8%) and detention 24(5.5%). Hospital birth [AOR: 3.04, 95% CI: 1.75, 5.27], rural residence [AOR: 1.44, 95% CI: 0.76, 2.71], monthly household income less than 1,644 Birr (USD 57) [AOR: 2.26, 95% CI: 1.20, 4.26], being attended by female providers [AOR: 1.74, 95% CI: 1.06, 2.86] and midwifery nurses [AOR: 2.23, 95% CI: 1.13, 4.39] showed positive association with experience of disrespect and abuse. Conclusion: The level of disrespect and abuse is high and its drivers and enablers include both structural and interpersonal factors. Expanding the size and skill mix of professionals in the preferred facilities (hospitals), and sensitizing care providers and health managers regarding the magnitude and consequences of D&A are strategies that could possibly promote more dignified and respectful maternity care.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Birkety Mengistu Jembere ◽  
Haregeweyni Alemu ◽  
Munir Kassa ◽  
Meseret Zelalem ◽  
Mehiret Abate ◽  
...  

Abstract BackgroundDisrespect and abuse (D&A) during childbirth are major violations of human rights and often deter women from accessing skilled delivery in health facilities. In Ethiopia, D&A has been documented to occur in up to 49.4% of mothers delivering in health facilities. This study describes the development, implementation and results of a novel intervention to improve respectful maternity care (RMC) and decrease D&A in three districts in Ethiopia.MethodsAs part of a national initiative to reduce maternal and perinatal mortality in Ethiopia, we developed a novel RMC training module with three core components: testimonial videos, didactic sessions on communication, and onsite coaching. As of February 2017, we implemented the RMC training in three districts within the regions of Oromia; Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People’s; and Tigray. Measures of births with privacy and a birth companion from a 27-month data from 17 health centers and three hospitals were analyzed using STATA version 13 for interrupted time series and a regression analysis was conducted to assess the significance of improvement. Facilitated discussions were conducted among health care providers to gauge the effectiveness of the videos. Facility level solutions applied to enhance RMC were documented. ResultsAn analysis of the effectiveness of integrating RMC using available programmatic data showed significant improvement following the RMC training, which was sustained beyond the project intervention (regression coefficients ranging from 0.18 to 0.77). Several local solutions were devised and implemented in the health facilities to improve the experience of care for mothers. Facilitated discussions with health care providers participating in the RMC training showed improved understanding of patients’ perspectives and the psychosocial needs of their clients. ConclusionThis study suggests that integrating the RMC training into the district-wide quality improvement (QI) collaborative is effective in improving RMC. Use of testimonial videos are especially helpful as they remind providers of the need to treat mothers with dignity and helps them reflect on potential root causes for this type of treatment and develop effective solutions.


2022 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-18
Author(s):  
Lucy Natecho Namusonge ◽  
Maximilla N. Wanzala ◽  
Edwin K. Wamukoya

High maternal and newborn mortality is a pressing problem in developing countries. Poor treatment during childbirth contributes directly and indirectly to this problem. Many women experience disrespectful and abusive treatment during childbirth worldwide which violates their rights. In Kenya, 20% of women report having experienced some form of disrespect and abuse (D&A). Bungoma County is among the 15 counties with the worst maternal and newborn health statistics in Kenya. The maternal mortality rate is 382 per 100,000 live births and newborn deaths 32 per 1,000 live births, while skilled birth attendance is 41.4%. This study was motivated by the poor maternal and newborn indicators, rising incidences of D&A, limited formal research on respectful maternity care. The study aimed at assessing women’s experience of care during childbirth at Level 5 health facilities in Bungoma County. The specific objectives were to determine the women’s experiences of care during childbirth, to determine factors contributing to disrespect and abuse during childbirth and to identify strategies for addressing issues affecting respectful maternity care for promoting quality of maternal and newborn care. A cross-sectional descriptive study design was used. It involved 360 mothers. Analysis of quantitative data was done using SPSS. Descriptive statistics were presented in graphs, tables, frequencies and percentages. Qualitative data was analysed thematically. The prevalence of D&A was 42.2%, younger age and lower education aggravated D&A. Autonomy, privacy and confidentiality, and absence of birth companionship were major aspects of D&A. Health workforce shortage, inadequate supervision, space and beds, poor provider-patient relationships were factors leading to D&A. It was concluded that there is a need for increased incorporation of Respectful Maternity Care (RMC) in routine care, deploy more staff, avail equipment and supplies, and enhance support supervision. The study information intends to assist stakeholders in prioritising policy actions for improving the quality of maternal and newborn health outcomes and indicators.


BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. e039616
Author(s):  
Alexander Manu ◽  
Nabila Zaka ◽  
Christina Bianchessi ◽  
Edward Maswanya ◽  
John Williams ◽  
...  

ObjectiveTo assess respectful maternity care (RMC) in health facilities.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingForty-three (43) facilities across 15 districts in Bangladesh, 16 in Ghana and 12 in Tanzania.ParticipantsFacility managers; 325 providers (nurses/midwives/doctors)—Bangladesh (158), Ghana (86) and Tanzania (81); and 849 recently delivered women—Bangladesh (295), Ghana (381) and Tanzania (173)—were interviewed. Observation of 641 client–provider interactions was conducted—Bangladesh (387), Ghana (134) and Tanzania (120).AssessmentTrained social scientists and clinicians assessed infrastructure, policies, provision and women’s experiences of RMC (emotional support, respectful care and communication).Primary outcomeRMC provided and/or experienced by women.ResultsThree (20%) facilities in Bangladesh, four (25%) in Ghana and three (25%) in Tanzania had no maternity clients’ toilets and one-half had no handwashing facilities. Policies for RMC such as identification of client abuses were available: 81% (Ghana), 73% (Bangladesh) and 50% (Tanzania), but response was poor. Ninety-four (60%) Bangladeshi, 26 (30%) Ghanaian and 20 (25%) Tanzanian providers were not RMC trained. They provided emotional support during labour care to 107 (80%) women in Ghana, 95 (79%) in Tanzania and 188 (48.5%) in Bangladesh, and were often courteous with them—236 (61%) in Bangladesh, 119 (89%) in Ghana and 108 (90%) in Tanzania. Due to structural challenges, 169 (44%) women in Bangladesh, 49 (36%) in Ghana and 77 (64%) in Tanzania had no privacy during labour. Care was refused to 13 (11%) Tanzanian and 2 Bangladeshi women who could not pay illegal charges. Twenty-five (7%) women in Ghana, nine (6%) in Bangladesh and eight (5%) in Tanzania were verbally abused during care. Providers in all countries highly rated their care provision (95%–100%), and 287 (97%) of Bangladeshi women, 368 (97%) Ghanaians and 152 (88%) Tanzanians reported ‘satisfaction’ with the care they received. However, based on their facility experiences, significant (p<0.001) percentages—20% (Ghana) to 57% (Bangladesh)—will not return to the same facilities for future childbirth.ConclusionsFacilities in Bangladesh, Ghana and Tanzania have foundational systems that facilitate RMC. Structural inadequacies and policy gaps pose challenges. Many women were, however, unwilling to return to the same facilities for future deliveries although they (and providers) highly rated these facilities.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dzomeku Veronica Millicent ◽  
Bonsu Adwoa Bemah ◽  
Nakua Kweku Emmanuel ◽  
Agbadi Pascal ◽  
Lori R. Jody ◽  
...  

AbstractBackgroundVarious aspects of disrespect and abusive maternity care have received scholarly attention because of frequent reports of the phenomenon in most healthcare facilities globally, especially in low- and middle-income countries. However, the perspectives of skilled providers on respectful maternal care have not been extensively studied. Midwives’ knowledge of respectful maternity care is critical in designing any interventive measures to address the menace of disrespect and abuse in maternity care. Therefore, the present study sought to explore the views of midwives on respectful maternity care at a Teaching Hospital in Kumasi, Ghana.MethodsPhenomenological qualitative research design was employed in the study. Data were generated through individual in-depth interviews, which were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data saturation was reached with fifteen midwives. Open Code 4.03 was used to manage and analyse the data.FindingsThe midwives’ understanding of respectful maternity care was comprised of the following components: non-abusive care, consented care, confidential care, non-violation of childbearing women’s basic human rights, and non-discriminatory care. Probing questions to solicit midwives’ opinions on an evidenced-based component of respectful maternity care generated little information, suggesting that the midwives have a gap in knowledge regarding this component of respectful maternity care.ConclusionMidwives reported an understanding of most components of respectful maternity care, but their gap in knowledge on evidenced-based care requires policy attention and in-service training. To understand the extent to which this gap in knowledge can be generalized for midwives across Ghana to warrant a redesign of the national midwifery curriculum, the authors recommend a nationwide cross-sectional quantitative study.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabika Munikar ◽  
Mala Chalise ◽  
Ranjan Dhungana ◽  
Durga Laxmi Shrestha ◽  
Naresh Pratap KC ◽  
...  

AbstractBackgroundOf the children born every year in Nepal, 57.4% are delivered in health facilities. Disrespect and abuse of women during maternity care are problems that can significantly impact women’s willingness to seek out life-saving maternity care. However, evidence suggests ongoing disrespectful maternity care worldwide. This study aims to identify perceived disrespect and abuse during labor and delivery among postnatal women delivering at Bheri Hospital, Nepal.MethodsA cross sectional study was conducted among 445 purposively selected women admitted in postnatal ward of Bheri Hospital, Nepal from February to March 2020. Ethical approval was obtained from Nepal Health Research Council. Informed written consent was obtained from each participant and a face-to-face interview was conducted for data collection. A semi-structured questionnaire consisting of demographic information and a pre-validated Respectful Maternity Care (RMC) tool was used. The information was then checked, coded, and entered in SPSS for descriptive and inferential analysis.ResultsIn this study, the participants perceived very high friendly care, abuse-free care and discrimination-free care but moderate timely care only. Timely care was found to be significantly associated with age, ethnicity, occupation, monthly income, gravida, type of delivery, and complications. On multinomial regression, monthly income and type of delivery were the only factors found to be significant. Those mothers who had spontaneous vaginal delivery were 2.07 times more likely to have neutral RMC, and those who earn less than twenty thousand Nepalese rupees per month were likely to perceive high timely RMC.ConclusionThis study concludes that disrespectful or abusive maternal care is not perceived among women delivering at Bheri Hospital in terms of friendly care, abuse-free care and non- discriminatory care. However, timely care is less reported. Appropriate interventions to provide timely care to delivering women must be instituted.


2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Namayipo Stella Wamukankamba Nankamba ◽  
Catherine Mubita Ngoma ◽  
Maureen Masumo Makoleka

Background/Aims Disrespect and abuse is a frequent occurrence in labour wards around the world. Disrespect and abuse during care by health workers can prevent pregnant women from seeking care during labour and childbirth, which can lead to increased maternal and neonatal mortality rates. This study aimed to explore midwives' perceptions of disrespect and abuse of women during labour and childbirth in Lusaka. Methods A concurrent convergent mixed-method approach was used for this study. Data were collected through a self-administered questionnaire given to 217 midwives actively practicing in maternal health services across Lusaka randomly sampled for the quantitative arm of the study. The data were analysed using bivariate and multivariate logistic regression, with P<0.05 used to indicate significance. For the qualitative component of the study, 13 purposively selected key informants were interviewed with an interview guide. Results Most of the respondents (88.5%) perceived disrespect and abuse of women during labour and childbirth as a negative phenomenon. However, almost half (40.1%) had provided care which was disrespectful and abusive during their practice and the majority (68.7%) had observed disrespect and abuse by other midwives. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis found an association between midwives' perception of disrespect and abuse and witnessing or participating in disrespectful and abusive behaviour during practice. In the qualitative arm of the study, midwives reported that disrespect and abuse occurred in labour wards across Lusaka, demonstrating an urgent need to prevent such practices. Midwives suggested actions such as increased sensitisation and training of midwives on respectful maternity care and improved staffing levels as ways to prevent this practice Conclusions Disrespect and abuse of women during labour and childbirth should be prevented. Increasing health education and training for both the public and midwives on respectful maternity care can help to achieve this goal. Midwives need to be motivated through good working environments, increased wages and increased time to rest while working, as the heavy workload was found to contribute to disrespect and abuse in labour wards.


Author(s):  
Elham Monaghesh ◽  
Alireza Hajizadeh

Abstract Purpose The outbreak of coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) is a public health emergency of international concern. Telehealth is effective option to fight COVID-19 outbreak. The aim of this systematic review was to identify the role of telehealth services during COVID-19 outbreak.Methods This systematic review was conducted through searching five databases including PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science and Science direct. Inclusion criteria included studies clearly defined role of telehealth services in COVID-19 outbreak, published from December 31, 2019, written in English language and published in peer reviewed. Two reviewers independently assessed search results, extracted data, and assessed quality of included studies. Quality assessment was based on the Critical Appraisal Skills Program (CASP) checklist. Narrative synthesis was undertaken to summarize and report the findings.Results Eight studies met the inclusion out of the 142 search results. Currently, healthcare providers and patients who are self-isolating, telehealth is certainly appropriate to minimizing the risk of COVID-19 transmission. This solution has the potential to avoidance of direct physical contact, provide continuous care to the community and finally reduce morbidity and mortality in COVID-19 outbreak.Conclusions The use of telehealth improves the provision of health services. Therefore, telehealth should be an important tool in caring services while keeping patients and health providers safe as the COVID-19 outbreak.


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