Abstract
BackgroundWhile there has been a trend for greater number of women to deliver at health facilities across Tanzania, mothers and their family members continue to face mistreatment with respectful maternity care during childbirth being violated. The objective of this study was to describe the experience of mothers and fathers in relation to (mis) treatment during childbirth in Tanzania.MethodsUsing a qualitative descriptive design, 12 semi-structured interviews and four focus group discussions were held with mothers and fathers who were attending a postnatal clinic in the Lake Zone region of Tanzania. Mothers’ age ranged from 20 to 45 years whereas fathers’ age ranged from 25 to 60 years. Data were analyzed using a priori coding based on Bohren’s et al. typology of the mistreatment of women during childbirth.ResultsMothers reported facing mistreatment and disrespectful maternity care through verbal abuse (harsh or rude language and judgmental or accusatory comments), failure to meet professional standards of care (refused pain relief, unconsented surgical operations, neglect, abandonment or long delays, and skilled attendant absent at time of delivery), poor rapport between women and providers (poor communication, lack of supportive care, denied husbands presence at birth, denied mobility, denied safe traditional practices, no respect for their preferred birth positions), and health system conditions and constraints (poor physical condition of facilities, supply constraints, bribery and extortion, unclear fee structures). Despite some poor care, some mothers also reported positive birthing experiences and respectful maternity care by having a skilled attendant assistance at delivery, having good communication from nurses, receiving supportive care from nurses and privacy during delivery.ConclusionDespite the increasing number of deliveries occurring in the hospital, there continue to be challenges in providing respectful maternity care. Humanizing birth care in Tanzania continues to have a long way to go, however, there is evidence that changes are occurring as mothers notice and report positive changes in delivery care practices.
Highlights
While there has been a trend for greater number of women to deliver at health facilities across Tanzania, mothers and their family members continue to face mistreatment with respectful maternity care during childbirth being violated
Respectful maternity care and humanizing the birth process is being increasingly emphasised in Tanzania by encouraging healthcare providers to care for women in a way that respects their rights as human beings
This study found that mothers in Tanzania experienced verbal abuse, failure to meet professional standards of care, poor rapport between women and providers, and health system conditions and constraints
Summary
While there has been a trend for greater number of women to deliver at health facilities across Tanzania, mothers and their family members continue to face mistreatment with respectful maternity care during childbirth being violated. Respectful maternity care ensures provision of sufficient and adequate care throughout the birth process, involving women as active agents and capable of making decisions [1]. It emphasizes the fundamental right of mothers, newborns, and their families, while recognizing that all childbearing women need and deserve respectful care and protection of their rights [2]. Women in Tanzania struggle with the decision about where to give birth with poor care often pushing them away from delivering in the healthcare facility with a skilled birth attendant, despite increased risk of fatal newborn and maternal outcomes [4, 6]
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