Did respectful maternity care improve after the end of the COVID-19 pandemic? Preliminary results from the Improving MAternal Newborn Care study over 5 years in 21 countries
1
WHO Collaborating Centre for Maternal and Child Health, Institute for Maternal and Child Health IRCSS Burlo Garofolo, Trieste, Italy
2
Institute of Health and Care Sciences- Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
3
National Institute of Public Health, Ljubljana, Slovenia
4
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Riga Stradins University, Riga, Latvia
5
Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Health Studies University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
6
HEI‐Lab: Digital Human‐Environment Interaction Labs, Universidade Lusofona do Porto, Porto, Portugal
7
Department of Midwifery- School of Health and Care Sciences, University of West Attica, Athens, Greece
8
Division of Intercultural Psychology and Gender Psychology, University of Gdańsk, Gdansk, Poland
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):A2261
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
This study aimed at comparing RMC from mothers giving birth during versus after the pandemic (after 5 May 2023).
METHODS:
Women aged ≥18 who gave birth in healthcare facilities between March 2020 and April 2025 answered a validated questionnaire including 15 RMC measures. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted.
RESULTS:
136755 women accessed the questionnaire, 129393 (94.6%) provided consent, 92970 (67.4%) were analysed from 21 countries (N=71030 pandemic period, N= 21419 post-pandemic period). Only two indicators had a relevant improvement in the post pandemic period: the number of women not allowed to have a companion of choice and inadequate partner visiting hours significantly decreased (60.3% vs 30.4%, 74.9% vs 52.0%, p<0.001 for both indicators). The remaining other 13 indicators did not show clinically relevant changes. Still, in the post-pandemic period, only 10.6% women experienced all the 15 RMC measures reflecting positive practices, with major differences across countries (from 3.8% in Croatia to 21.9% in Sweden). Moreover, in the post pandemic period 14.6% reported feeling abused (7.5% in Germany to 19.3% in Croatia), 23.3% were not treated with dignity (12.9 in Belgium to 39.5% Croatia) and 21.4% lacked privacy (15.5% in Slovenia to 65.9% in Bosnia Herzegovina). Lack of involvement in choices (12.3% in Austria to 53.2% Greece) and ineffective communication (20.1% Portugal to 48.8% to Croatia) were gaps common to all countries.
CONCLUSIONS:
This large multicountry study suggests that the COVID pandemic was not the main determinant of lack of RMC, with major gaps remaining after the end of the pandemic. Urgent action is needed at international and country level to align maternal care to existing international treaties and regulatory frameworks relevant to human rights.
This study aimed at comparing RMC from mothers giving birth during versus after the pandemic (after 5 May 2023).
METHODS:
Women aged ≥18 who gave birth in healthcare facilities between March 2020 and April 2025 answered a validated questionnaire including 15 RMC measures. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted.
RESULTS:
136755 women accessed the questionnaire, 129393 (94.6%) provided consent, 92970 (67.4%) were analysed from 21 countries (N=71030 pandemic period, N= 21419 post-pandemic period). Only two indicators had a relevant improvement in the post pandemic period: the number of women not allowed to have a companion of choice and inadequate partner visiting hours significantly decreased (60.3% vs 30.4%, 74.9% vs 52.0%, p<0.001 for both indicators). The remaining other 13 indicators did not show clinically relevant changes. Still, in the post-pandemic period, only 10.6% women experienced all the 15 RMC measures reflecting positive practices, with major differences across countries (from 3.8% in Croatia to 21.9% in Sweden). Moreover, in the post pandemic period 14.6% reported feeling abused (7.5% in Germany to 19.3% in Croatia), 23.3% were not treated with dignity (12.9 in Belgium to 39.5% Croatia) and 21.4% lacked privacy (15.5% in Slovenia to 65.9% in Bosnia Herzegovina). Lack of involvement in choices (12.3% in Austria to 53.2% Greece) and ineffective communication (20.1% Portugal to 48.8% to Croatia) were gaps common to all countries.
CONCLUSIONS:
This large multicountry study suggests that the COVID pandemic was not the main determinant of lack of RMC, with major gaps remaining after the end of the pandemic. Urgent action is needed at international and country level to align maternal care to existing international treaties and regulatory frameworks relevant to human rights.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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