Module 04:
Promoting Respectful Maternity and Newborn Care
Welcome to the fourth module in the ERMC course. This module has been developed to further your knowledge of the consequences of disrespectful care for women during labor and birth and ways to promote ERMC. A list of resource requirements to promote ERMC is also provided, as well as an example of a case scenario of providing ERMC. Finally, this module will end with a post-course completion survey that includes reflection on equity and respect in maternity care.
Module 04:
Promoting Respectful Maternity and Newborn Care
Welcome to the fourth module in the ERMC course. This module has been developed to further your knowledge of the consequences of disrespectful care for women during labor and birth and ways to promote ERMC. A list of resource requirements to promote ERMC is also provided, as well as an example of a case scenario of providing ERMC. Finally, this module will end with a post-course completion survey that includes reflection on equity and respect in maternity care.
At the end of this learning activity, you will be able to
Explain the consequences of disrespectful and abusive care
Explain the ways to promote ERMC in women during labor and childbirth.
List evidence-based recommendations to promote ERMC
Reflect on the experience of care towards women during labor and birth during clinical placement using the ‘Bass Holistic Model of Reflection.’
Is disrespectful maternity care a concern in the United States?
Yes, disrespectful maternity care does occur in the United States.
In some countries, disrespectful maternity care includes physical or sexual abuse, such as hitting, unnecessary restraints, exposure of a woman’s sexual parts, rough vaginal examinations, and other abusive practices.
In the U.S., disrespectful care often includes verbal abuse, such as harshness, judgmental language, lack of kindness, inadequate translation services, coercion, and failures in obtaining informed consent.
These practices are evident in the significant disparities in maternal outcomes across racial groups, highlighting the impact of structural racism and biases. Addressing these systemic issues is essential to achieving Respectful Maternity Care.
Consequences of Disrespectful and Abusive Behavior
Lack of RMC, or disrespectful care, has been identified as part of systems’ failures, leading to worse outcomes among those who are the most vulnerable during childbearing.
Disrespectful and abusive behavior toward women during labor and childbirth may have physical, mental, and economic consequences.