Barriers to Respectful Maternity Care from Mother’s, Provider’s and Administrator’s Perspective: An Exploratory Qualitative Study

Abstract

Respectful maternity care (RMC) is an approach to care based on personal choice and preferences, which supports and promotes, and doesn’t undermine a person’s self-respect [1]. During the past three decades, maternal mortality has decreased nearly by half but is still alarmingly high, particularly in sub-Saharan African countries. More than half of maternal mortality is associated with poor quality of care, and most maternal mortality is preventable if timely quality maternity care is delivered and evidence-based action is taken [2-4]. Responding to this, the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals include reducing the maternal mortality rate below 77 per 100,000 live births and eliminating all forms of violence against women, particularly during labor and delivery [5]. The mistreatment of women during institutional delivery could be an obstacle to these ambitious goals, especially in a low-income country like Ethiopia[6].