Mothers’ Experiences of Respectful Maternity Care During Labor: A Descriptive Phenomenological Study at the KNUST Hospital

Childbirth is a crucial event in a woman's life, and the quality of care provided during this time can have a great impact on the mother's well-being. Unfortunately, disrespectful and abusive treatment during childbirth remains a concern in many healthcare settings, affecting women's childbirth experiences and satisfaction with maternity care. This qualitative study employed a descriptive phenomenological approach to explore the lived experiences of mothers regarding respectful maternity care (RMC) during childbirth at a secondary-level quasi-government hospital in Kumasi, Ashanti region, Ghana. Individual, face-to-face interviews guided by a semistructured interview guide were conducted in English among 12 purposively sampled mothers who were seeking antenatal and postnatal services at the hospital. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using inductive thematic analysis, aided by the NVivo software version 20.0. The study revealed that women perceived RMC as the absence of verbal abuse; consideration of women's choices in delivery of care; showing concern for mother's well-being; and availability of knowledgeable healthcare providers. The study also revealed a range of experiences during childbirth. These included positive aspects such as friendly care and attention to mothers' needs, as well as negative experiences, including mistreatment, lack of informed consent, and delay in receiving care. These experiences significantly influenced mothers' overall satisfaction. It emphasizes the need for healthcare providers to receive training and sensitization on respectful communication and informed consent. Additionally, hospital management should work toward establishing feedback mechanisms to ensure the voices of women about the care they receive are heard.