Enhancing Maternal Outcomes Through Respectful Maternity Care

A comprehensive review by Dr. Kristin Tully, published in Seminars in Perinatology, highlights a critical crisis in U.S. maternity care: a significant number of women and birthing individuals suffer preventable harm due to outdated, biased, and inequitable practices. The study reveals that between 2017 and 2019, approximately 84.2% of pregnancy-related deaths could have been avoided if optimal care had been provided.

The review emphasizes alarming disparities in maternity experiences, especially among Black, Hispanic, and multiracial mothers, who report mistreatment at rates 10% higher than the overall average. These disparities are linked to higher postpartum health risks, such as increased blood pressure and conditions like preeclampsia. Many women report feeling ignored, pressured into unnecessary interventions, or treated disrespectfully, leading to delayed care and worse outcomes.

Dr. Tully stresses the importance of implementing Respectful Maternity Care (RMC), a patient-centered approach that ensures dignity, autonomy, and equity during pregnancy, labor, and postpartum. The World Health Organization defines RMC as involving free from discrimination, clear respectful communication, informed consent, and a safe, supportive environment.

Key findings advocate for urgent reforms: hospitals should educate patients on their rights and self-advocacy, healthcare providers must be trained to eliminate implicit bias and use respectful language, and policymakers should hold institutions accountable through transparent reporting and Medicaid postpartum coverage expansion. Addressing these issues is essential to reducing maternal mortality, especially among marginalized populations, and creating a healthcare system that prioritizes safe, respectful, and equitable care for all birthing individuals.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-06-maternal-outcomes-respectful-maternity.html