Prevalence and associated factors of respectful maternity care at a public regional referral hospital in Uganda: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Respectful maternity care (RMC) as opposed to disrespect and abuse (D&A) is very crucial in promoting skilled birth attendance. This study assessed the prevalence and associated factors of RMC during labor and childbirth. Methods: A total of 356 postnatal women consented to take part in the study. A pre-tested structured questionnaire was administered by trained research assistants. The outcome variable (RMC) was measured by twelve behavioral descriptors, while disrespect and abuse (D&A) were measured by eleven items related to the mistreatment of women. Data was analyzed using STATA (version 18.5) with frequencies and proportions used at the univariate level. Results: The average prevalence of RMC was 62.3%. Treating patients with respect (77.5%), speaking to patients in a language they could understand (73.3%), and showing concern and empathy (72.5%). were the top 3 most reported RMC elements. The occurrence of D&A care among the study participants was 43.6%. Women aged 25 to 29 years (95% CI: 0.74, 0.92, p-value = 0.001), having a planned pregnancy (95% CI: 1.05, 1.30, p-value = 0.005), and having come to the hospital with a husband (95% CI: 1.00, 1.21, p-value = 0.064) were statistically significantly related to respective maternal care. Conclusions: The prevalence of D&A was 43.6%, which is high compared to the literature. The prevalence of RMC was 62.3%, which is moderate compared to others in the literature. The occurrence of disrespectful and abusive care among the study participants was 43.6%, which is comparatively high. Recommendations Specific strategies and interventions, including male involvement and providing youth-friendly maternal health services, should be designed to increase the magnitude of respectful maternity care during childbirth within Uganda's health facilities.