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.
Main Resource Requirements for RMC
The problem of disrespect and abuse is multifactorial and evident from the policy to the individual/community level. Therefore, resources at multiple levels, from policy to individual, should be considered to promote RMC (WHO, 2018).
For example, improving the attitudes and behaviors of facility-based healthcare providers alone will not be adequate to improve the quality of care and prevent disrespect and abuse during labor and birth.
Healthcare providers also need to be respected, paid well, have access to professional development and supervision, and adequate supplies, clean water, and well-functioning equipment to provide respectful care (WHO, 2018).