Status of the Respectful Maternity Care Among Women Attending Public Health Facility for Child Birth

Abstract

Objectives: To determine the status of respectful maternity care (RMC) among women attending public health facility for childbirth.

Methodology: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at postnatal ward of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Federal Government Polyclinic Hospital Islamabad, from August 2024 to February 2025. The women in postnatal wards who delivered either vaginally or through C-Section in the federal government polyclinic hospital of either age or parity were included. A face-to-face interview was done using a predesigned questionnaire covering domains such as dignity, privacy, informed consent, non-discrimination, and freedom from abuse. All the data was collected on a designated proforma and entered using SPSS version 23.

Results: Overall 147 patients were enrolled with mean age of 30.59+2.86 years, mostly with primary education (41.5%), Muslim (87.8%), and of satisfactory socioeconomic status (69.4%). Around all women were booked (95.2%), majority had more than five antenatal visits (53.1%) and SVD was the predominant mode of delivery (40.1%). According to respectful maternity care, procedures were explained and consent obtained in most patients (87.8% and 95.2% respectively), though confidentiality of patient information ensured in only 35.4% of the patients. However no physical abuse or religious discrimination was reported by any women. Overall, 90% of cases expressed satisfaction with the maternity care received.

Conclusion: The respectful maternity care in the public health facility was largely achieved, as evidenced by higher rates of taking consent, explanation of procedure, and good management of pain, along with the lack of physical abuse and religious discrimination.