A Survey of Women giving Birth regarding Respect for the Human Dignity of the Mother and the Newborn

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to determine the current status of respect for the human dignity of mothers and newborn from the perspective of women who have given birth. Providing health services with respect for the human dignity of the mother and the newborn can boost the mother's self-esteem, encourage her to become pregnant in the future, and may also strengthen her confidence in the medical system. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out through a census of 384 women who gave birth in Khaf's 22nd Bahman Hospital, eastern Iran, in 2022. A researcher-developed questionnaire was used to collect data, which were then analyzed in SPSS-22 using one-sample t and multiple linear regression. The significance level was established at p <0.05. Results: Communication with respect (2.98 ± 0.53) and respect for individual autonomy (2.94 ± 0.54) ranked highest and lowest, respectively, among the components of respect for the mother and newborn's human dignity. From the perspective of women who had given birth, respect for the human dignity of the mother and newborn in general, as well as the components of respect for personal privacy and communication with respect, were at a moderate level, whereas respect for individual autonomy was below average. Conclusion: The below-average score of the component of respect for individual autonomy and, finally the average level of respect for the human dignity of the mother and newborn necessitates that managers prioritize promoting these concepts in the provision of health services through practical programs. their positions and responsibilities, such that it is never compromised or destroyed. Relative dignity depends on a person's level of education, social class, religion, and culture, and these circumstances may pose a significant threat to this type of dignity [7]. Respect for one's dignity is a basic human need. However, midwives in charge of delivery respect the rights of mothers during labor and delivery to an optimal degree. However, the perspective of the midwives in charge of childbirth differed from that of the head of the maternity hospital and the women who had given birth, who felt that these rights were respected less [16].