Assessment of Respectful Maternity Care Practices and Associated Factors During Labor and Delivery

African Journal of Nursing and Midwifery | Vol. 14, No. 7, July 2026 | pp. 42–49

DOI: 10.46882/2026/AJNM/000137

Original Research Article

Title: Assessment of Respectful Maternity Care Practices and Associated Factors During Labor and Delivery

Names of Authors: Mariama S. Diallo¹, Fatou B. Cisse²

Authors’ Affiliations: ¹Department of Nursing and Midwifery, Gamal Abdel Nasser University of Conakry, Guinea; ²Faculty of Medicine and Nursing, Cheikh Anta Diop University, Dakar, Senegal

Abstract:
Disrespect and abuse during institutional childbirth violate basic human rights and deter women from utilizing facility-based maternal healthcare services. This study assessed the prevalence, manifestations, and predictors of respectful maternity care (RMC) practices among midwives during labor and delivery. A facility-based cross-sectional study was implemented, involving a randomly selected cohort of 310 postpartum women within 48 hours of delivery at five public maternity clinics. Data collection leveraged structured questionnaires modeled after the USAID Maternal and Child Health Integrated Program tool. Multivariable logistic regression identified factors associated with the preservation of RMC. Strikingly, 43.2% of mothers experienced at least one form of disrespect or abuse, with non-consensual care (28.4%) and loss of privacy (22.6%) emerging as the most frequent breaches. Women who delivered during night shifts were 2.4 times more likely to experience disrespectful care compared to day shifts (AOR = 2.41, 95% CI: 1.34 - 4.12, p = 0.003). High provider caseloads significantly reduced RMC delivery scores. Institutional disrespect during childbirth remains unacceptably common. Remedying these deficits demands mandatory midwife-led training on human rights in childbirth, structural facility modifications to secure physical privacy, and strict administrative accountability mechanisms.

Keywords: Respectful Maternity Care; Obstetric Violence; Midwifery Care; Institutional Delivery; Quality of Care; Patient Rights.

Manuscript Timeline: Received April 05, 2026; Revised June 01, 2026; Accepted June 18, 2026; Published July 20, 2026.

Citation: Diallo, M. S., & Cisse, F. B. (2026). Assessment of Respectful Maternity Care Practices and Associated Factors During Labor and Delivery. African Journal of Nursing and Midwifery, 14(7), 42–49.

Subscribe to read the full article: https://www.internationalscholarsjournals.org/subscribe-to-read