Promoting respectful maternity care: challenges and prospects from the perspectives of midwives at a tertiary health facility in Ghana
Abstract Background Evidence shows that women in Ghana experience disrespectful care (slapping, pinching, being shouted at, etc.) from midwives during childbirth. Hence, evidence-based research is needed to advance the adoption of respectful maternity care (RMC) by midwives. We therefore sought to e...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-05-01
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| Series: | BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-022-04786-w |
| _version_ | 1811257301589295104 |
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| author | Veronica Millicent Dzomeku Adwoa Bemah Boamah Mensah Emmanuel Kweku Nakua Pascal Agbadi Joshua Okyere Peter Donkor Jody R. Lori |
| author_facet | Veronica Millicent Dzomeku Adwoa Bemah Boamah Mensah Emmanuel Kweku Nakua Pascal Agbadi Joshua Okyere Peter Donkor Jody R. Lori |
| author_sort | Veronica Millicent Dzomeku |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Evidence shows that women in Ghana experience disrespectful care (slapping, pinching, being shouted at, etc.) from midwives during childbirth. Hence, evidence-based research is needed to advance the adoption of respectful maternity care (RMC) by midwives. We therefore sought to explore and document midwives’ perspectives concerning challenges faced and prospects available for promoting RMC in a tertiary health facility. Methods We employed an exploratory descriptive qualitative study design. In total, we conducted 12 interviews with midwives educated on RMC. All audio data were transcribed verbatim and exported to NVivo-12 for data management and analyses. We relied on the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research guideline in reporting this study. Results The findings were broadly categorised into three themes: emotional support, dignified care and respectful communication which is consistent with the WHO’s quality of care framework. For each theme, the current actions that were undertaken to promote RMC, the challenges and recommendations to improve RMC promotion were captured. Overall, the current actions that promoted RMC included provision of sacral massages and reassurance, ensuring confidentiality and consented care, and referring clients who cannot pay to the social welfare unit. The challenges to providing RMC were logistical constraints for ensuring privacy, free movement of clients, and alternative birthing positions. Poor attitudes from some midwives, workload and language barrier were other challenges that emerged. The midwives recommended the appointment of more midwives, as well as the provision of logistics to support alternative birthing positions and privacy. Also, they recommended the implementation of continuous training and capacity building. Conclusion We conclude that in order for midwives to deliver RMC services that include emotional support, dignified care, and respectful communication, the government and hospital administration must make the required adjustments to resolve existing challenges while improving the current supporting activities. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T17:55:20Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-10e82c535dc44e7caa125856bf0e0b58 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2393 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T17:55:20Z |
| publishDate | 2022-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth |
| spelling | doaj.art-10e82c535dc44e7caa125856bf0e0b582022-12-22T03:22:22ZengBMCBMC Pregnancy and Childbirth1471-23932022-05-0122111510.1186/s12884-022-04786-wPromoting respectful maternity care: challenges and prospects from the perspectives of midwives at a tertiary health facility in GhanaVeronica Millicent Dzomeku0Adwoa Bemah Boamah Mensah1Emmanuel Kweku Nakua2Pascal Agbadi3Joshua Okyere4Peter Donkor5Jody R. Lori6Department of Nursing, College of Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Nursing, College of Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Nursing, College of Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Nursing, College of Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Surgery, School of Medical Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and TechnologyUniversity of Michigan School of NursingAbstract Background Evidence shows that women in Ghana experience disrespectful care (slapping, pinching, being shouted at, etc.) from midwives during childbirth. Hence, evidence-based research is needed to advance the adoption of respectful maternity care (RMC) by midwives. We therefore sought to explore and document midwives’ perspectives concerning challenges faced and prospects available for promoting RMC in a tertiary health facility. Methods We employed an exploratory descriptive qualitative study design. In total, we conducted 12 interviews with midwives educated on RMC. All audio data were transcribed verbatim and exported to NVivo-12 for data management and analyses. We relied on the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research guideline in reporting this study. Results The findings were broadly categorised into three themes: emotional support, dignified care and respectful communication which is consistent with the WHO’s quality of care framework. For each theme, the current actions that were undertaken to promote RMC, the challenges and recommendations to improve RMC promotion were captured. Overall, the current actions that promoted RMC included provision of sacral massages and reassurance, ensuring confidentiality and consented care, and referring clients who cannot pay to the social welfare unit. The challenges to providing RMC were logistical constraints for ensuring privacy, free movement of clients, and alternative birthing positions. Poor attitudes from some midwives, workload and language barrier were other challenges that emerged. The midwives recommended the appointment of more midwives, as well as the provision of logistics to support alternative birthing positions and privacy. Also, they recommended the implementation of continuous training and capacity building. Conclusion We conclude that in order for midwives to deliver RMC services that include emotional support, dignified care, and respectful communication, the government and hospital administration must make the required adjustments to resolve existing challenges while improving the current supporting activities.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-022-04786-wRespectful maternity careMidwivesDignified careRespectful communicationGhana |
| spellingShingle | Veronica Millicent Dzomeku Adwoa Bemah Boamah Mensah Emmanuel Kweku Nakua Pascal Agbadi Joshua Okyere Peter Donkor Jody R. Lori Promoting respectful maternity care: challenges and prospects from the perspectives of midwives at a tertiary health facility in Ghana BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth Respectful maternity care Midwives Dignified care Respectful communication Ghana |
| title | Promoting respectful maternity care: challenges and prospects from the perspectives of midwives at a tertiary health facility in Ghana |
| title_full | Promoting respectful maternity care: challenges and prospects from the perspectives of midwives at a tertiary health facility in Ghana |
| title_fullStr | Promoting respectful maternity care: challenges and prospects from the perspectives of midwives at a tertiary health facility in Ghana |
| title_full_unstemmed | Promoting respectful maternity care: challenges and prospects from the perspectives of midwives at a tertiary health facility in Ghana |
| title_short | Promoting respectful maternity care: challenges and prospects from the perspectives of midwives at a tertiary health facility in Ghana |
| title_sort | promoting respectful maternity care challenges and prospects from the perspectives of midwives at a tertiary health facility in ghana |
| topic | Respectful maternity care Midwives Dignified care Respectful communication Ghana |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-022-04786-w |
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