Perspectives of midwives on respectful maternity care

BACKGROUND: Respectful maternity care forms the foundation of maternity services; however, delivery of dignified, efficient, and effective care in these settings remains inconsistent. Research has identified several factors that influence respectful maternity care. To understand the South African context, these factors were explored and described from the perspectives of midwives. METHODS: A qualitative descriptive inquiry was conducted, with participants recruited through snowball sampling on the social networking site Facebook. Semi-structured questions were used to collect data, to which participants responded in writing, detailing factors that influenced respectful care, including words and practices they associated with respectful maternity care. The data was analyzed using content analysis to identify common categories. RESULTS: Twenty-five responses from participants were analyzed; four categories and six sub-categories emerged as representations of respectful maternity care. The categories and sub-categories were as follows: healthcare professional behavior (ethical conduct and professional attributes related to education and training), managerial support (conducive work environment), interpersonal facet of care (characteristics of healthcare providers), and the birth environment (caring within the birth environment and client-centered care). CONCLUSION: Midwives emphasized the importance of understanding respectful maternity care to ensure optimal outcomes for women, families, and communities. However, given the complexity of maternity care, it is crucial for policymakers, administrators, and midwives to comprehend and appreciate the various elements that define respectful care, as this understanding can significantly enhance its successful implementation.