WHO, UNICEF and Partners Publish First Global Guide on Respectful Maternal and Newborn Care

Leading global health and development agencies released the Compendium on respectful maternal and newborn care, the first-of-its-kind implementation guide to help countries provide respectful, dignified care and eliminate mistreatment across maternal and newborn health services.

The compendium aims to assist nations in delivering care that upholds dignity while addressing forms of mistreatment ranging from neglect and abuse to non-consensual medical procedures. It was published by WHO together with UNFPA, UNICEF and the United Nations’ Special Programme on Human Reproduction (HRP), with support from Jhpiego and the MOMENTUM Country and Global Leadership programme.

A 2019 study by the UN’s Special Programme in Human Reproduction (HRP), supported by WHO, was conducted in four countries. The study found that over 40% of women experienced abuse or discrimination during labour or childbirth. In the 2019 study some women were slapped, shouted at, or forcibly restrained.

Women in the same study reported that more than 75% of episiotomies were performed without their consent. They also reported that 60% of vaginal examinations were performed without their consent. The compendium builds on WHO’s 2014 statement on preventing disrespect and abuse during childbirth.

It represents the first global effort to translate principles of respectful care into tangible implementation strategies and reflects a decade of expanded research and advocacy in the area. ” Dr Hedieh Mehrtash added that women are not part of decision-making and are treated with contempt or even abuse.

The publication is targeted primarily at health programme managers and gathers recent evidence, provides links to practical tools, and outlines actions including enacting supportive laws and policies, training health workers, improving work environments and involving women and families in planning and monitoring of care.

The guide urges decision-makers to identify and address root causes of mistreatment. These include harmful policies such as forced detention for non-payment of medical bills or mother-baby separation, stigma and discrimination against younger or unmarried women or those from disadvantaged backgrounds, and heavy workloads or under-resourcing of health workers.

The compendium also highlights critical areas where mistreatment is often overlooked, such as perinatal mental health, support for bereaved families, or for parents caring for small and sick newborns.

It complements existing WHO tools and standards, from advancing midwifery models of care to rights-based clinical recommendations for maternal and newborn health, serving as a one-stop reference for available resources and evidence on respectful care.

@WHO reported that the new publication marks a major milestone by providing concrete strategies to strengthen respectful care across the full range of maternal and newborn services.