"Respectful Maternity Care: Role of Nurses in Promoting Dignity During Childbirth"

Abstract: Respectful Maternity Care (RMC) has emerged as a fundamental component of quality maternal health services, emphasizing the preservation of dignity, privacy, autonomy, and informed choice during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postnatal period. Despite global advances in maternal healthcare, disrespect and abuse during childbirth remain prevalent in many healthcare settings, negatively affecting maternal satisfaction, health outcomes, and service utilization. Nurses, as frontline caregivers and continuous care providers during labor and birth, play a pivotal role in ensuring respectful, woman-centered care. This review article aims to explore the concept of respectful maternity care, examine forms and consequences of disrespectful care, and critically analyze the role of nurses in promoting dignity during childbirth. The article further discusses ethical principles, communication strategies, cultural sensitivity, institutional responsibilities, and barriers to implementation of RMC, along with future directions for nursing practice, education, and policy. Strengthening respectful maternity care through nursing interventions is essential for improving maternal outcomes, enhancing trust in healthcare systems, and achieving global maternal health goals.