Facilitators and Barriers to the Provision of Respectful Maternity Care in Hospital Settings from Midwives’ Perspectives: A Cross-Sectional Study in Selected Hospital in Central Kerala

Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) emphasizes the significance of positive birth experiences through Respectful Maternity Care (RMC). A staggering 78.2% of childbirths experience disrespectful maternity care. Therefore, this review aims to explore the facilitators and barriers to delivering Respectful Maternity Care (RMC) in hospital environments. However, there is limited knowledge regarding the facilitators and barriers to delivering respectful maternity care in hospitals from the perspective of midwives. Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional research design was employed to determine the facilitators and barriers to the provision of Respectful Maternity Care (RMC) during childbirth by midwives in hospital. The hospital selected for this study was a 350-bedded private hospital that offered maternal and child health services. A structured questionnaire consisting of 45 questions was administered to assess both aspects of respectful maternity care delivery among 91 midwives. Results: A total of 91 midwives were chosen through a consecutive sampling method and the study was conducted in the hospital settings. Of the 91 midwives, the proportions reflecting a very good, good, and poor perception of RMC facilitators and barriers are 67.04%, 31.87%, and 1.09% respectively. The results showed that nurse midwives (85.7%) held a much more favorable view of facilitators compared to barriers (49.4%). Conclusion: Based on the findings presented, we recommend that strong measures be implemented to improve institutional policies, resources, training, and oversight for healthcare providers regarding respectful maternity care, which will ultimately enhance care quality and foster positive birth experiences. Keywords: Facilitators, Barriers, Respectful Maternity Care, Midwives, Perspectives