Adherence to respectful maternity care guidelines during COVID-19 pandemic and associated factors among healthcare providers working at hospitals in northwest Ethiopia: A multicenter, observational study

Abstract

Background Respectful maternity care is one of the facilitators of women's access to maternity healthcare services. However, it has been evidenced that maternal healthcare services are compromised during the pandemic of coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19). Moreover, there was a dearth of evidence on healthcare provider's adherence to respectful maternity care guidelines through direct observation. Hence, this study intended to assess healthcare provider's adherence to respectful maternity care guidelines during COVID-19 in northwest Ethiopia. Methods A multicenter observational cross-sectional study was conducted at hospitals in northwest Ethiopia from November 15th/2020 to March 10th/2021. A simple random sampling technique was employed to select 406 healthcare providers. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews and direct observation using a structured questionnaire and standardized checklist respectively. The data were entered into Epi Info 7.1.2 and exported to SPSS version 25 for analysis. A binary logistic regression model was fitted. Both bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were undertaken. The level of significance was claimed based on the adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) at a p-value of ≤0.05. Results The proportion of healthcare providers adhering to respectful maternity care guidelines during COVID-19 was 63.8% (95% CI: 59.1, 68.4). Job satisfaction (AOR = 1.82; 95% CI: 1.04, 3.18), professional work experience of 3–5 years (AOR = 2.84; 95% CI: 1.74, 4.6) and ≥6 years (AOR = 2.21; 95% CI: 1.11, 4.38), and having education parallel to work (AOR = 0.33; 95% CI: 0.21, 0.51) have an independent statistical significant association with adherence to respectful maternity care guidelines . Conclusion In this study, six out of ten healthcare providers had good adherence to respectful maternity care guidelines . Ensuring health worker's job satisfaction and providing education opportunities by the government would improve healthcare provider's adherence to respectful maternity care standards.

“She helped from the first minute to the last” – experiences of respectful maternal and newborn care during the COVID-19 pandemic in Nampula Province, Mozambique

“…A study conducted in northwest Ethiopia during COVID-19 found that 66% of providers did not explain procedures to birthing clients prior to performing them and 64% did not obtain consent for procedures during labor and delivery but it is unclear how these rates compare to those pre-pandemic. (14) This research offers important insights about provider adherence to respectful maternity care standards, however, there remains a notable gap in documenting client experience throughout the pandemic. Following this, the current study aimed to explore client experience of intrapartum care during the pandemic in Mozambique.…”

Disrespect and abuse experienced by women giving birth in public health facilities of Eastern Ethiopia: a multicenter cross-sectional study

“… 9 , 10 In recent years, numerous studies have revealed that DA is an important deterrent to service utilization. 6 , 11 – 18 Ethiopia’s Federal Ministry of Health has introduced the concept of RMC within the health care system to address this problem. 4…”

“…9,10 In recent years, numerous studies have revealed that DA is an important deterrent to service utilization. 6,[11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18] Ethiopia's Federal Ministry of Health has introduced the concept of RMC within the health care system to address this problem. 4 With introduction of the RMC concept in Ethiopia, solid initiatives and efforts have been implemented to incorporate this approach into in-service training packages alongside the Basic Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care package.…”