The Right to Respectful Maternity Care – 2016 (4:13)

Birth – One Hundred Years of Seeking Respectful Maternity Care: History and Evolution (2025)

This article examines the following contextual question: “How is respectful maternity care [RMC] during labor and delivery, and the immediate postpartum period defined in the literature? Does the literature define the essential/critical components of respectful maternity care?” As part of a larger systematic review of RMC, the authors review the history and evolution of previous and current perspectives about maternity care and childbirth.  The following key movements and frameworks are discussed: 1) Rethinking Labor Pain: The Precursor to Respect; 2) Humanizing Birth via Managing Labor; 3) Humanizing Birth via Attending Labor; and 4) Respectful Maternity Care. To further address inequities in maternal health and maternity care outcomes, there is a need to better understand and develop care models, patient safety, systemic, and structural interventions that deal with Obstetric Violence, Racism, and Trauma.

White Ribbon Alliance (WRA) – Respectful Maternity Care: The Universal Rights of Women and Newborns (2022)

The White Ribbon Alliance’s Maternity Care Charter reviews the evidence globally for various forms of disrespect and abuse experienced during pregnancy and childbirth, including physical abuse, non-consented care, non-confidential care, non-dignified care (including verbal abuse), discrimination based on specific attributes, abandonment or denial of care, and detention in facilities. A platform for improvement based on ten (10) corresponding fundamental rights with their associated legal authorities is proposed for women and newborns who are making use of maternal and newborn care services.

https://whiteribbonalliance.org/resources/rmc-charter/ 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Vital Signs – Many Women Report Mistreatment During Pregnancy and Delivery.  Moms Deserve Respectful and Equal Maternity Care

This CDC website and video (2:51) present U.S. statistics about disparities in mistreatment during maternity care experienced by women from diverse backgrounds. Bias, discrimination, and poor communication can negatively impact care and worsen maternal health outcomes.  Practical strategies are offered to healthcare systems, maternity care providers, and everyone for advancing health equity by ensuring respectful, patient-centered maternity care.

Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC)/Center for Health Justice – Polling: From Pregnancy to Policy (2022)

This data brief reports the findings from a nationally representative sample of people who had given birth in the last 5 years to learn about their pregnancy, birthing, and postpartum experiences.  Insights are shared about the complications and discrimination faced by individuals from diverse racial/ethnic, sociodemographic, and generational backgrounds as well as LGBTQ+ populations.   Key findings included: 1) “People who are younger, with lower income, living in rural areas, and LGBTQ+ were more likely to report a less than “good” birthing experience;” 2) “People who are Black, Hispanic, younger, with lower income, or LGBTQ+ were more likely to feel that their care was affected by bias or discrimination;” and 3) “30% of birthing people were never screened for mental health problems during or after their pregnancies.”

Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC)/Center for Health Justice – Polling Spotlight: Understanding the Experiences of LGBTQ+ People Who Give Birth (2022)

This data brief shares additional insights from the AAMC report From Pregnancy to Policy discussed above focusing on the 13% of the sample who identified with the LGBTQ+ community (including lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, asexual, and other). These findings significantly differed from responses of the cisgender, heterosexual population and indicated worse birthing experiences, higher percentages of increased bias or discrimination, more complications following childbirth, and an increased use of telehealth services. Interpersonal and institutional strategies for addressing inequities are proposed.

Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC)/Center for Health Justice – Polling: Trustworthy Care from Conception to Cradle: A Key Ingredient for Maternal Health Equity (2025)

“This polling brief presents data from a nationally representative sample of adults, ages 18+ in the United States who have ever given birth … [and examines] levels of trust in health care providers during the perinatal period (pregnancy, labor and delivery, and postpartum) and adverse experiences encountered during labor and delivery.” Key findings include the following: 1) “The vast majority of U.S. adults who have ever given birth reported having trust in their health care team during pregnancy and the postpartum period, though trust declined slightly from pregnancy to the postpartum period— particularly among younger adults and members of racial and ethnic minority groups;” 2) “Younger adults who have ever given birth reported more experiences of disrespect, being ignored, being dismissed, and medical harm during labor and delivery compared with older adults. Similarly, members of racial and ethnic minority groups reported more experiences of mistreatment, being dismissed, and medical harm compared with white adults;” and 3) “Overall, adults who have ever given birth reported that the top three actions providers should take to demonstrate trustworthiness were communicating clearly and honestly, demonstrating empathy, and respecting patients’ choices and autonomy.” Interpersonal, institutional, and community-engaged strategies for “strengthening trust to advance equitable maternal health care” are shared and a link is provided to the AAMC/Center for Health Justice’s Principles of Trustworthiness Toolkit. 

Association of American Medical Centers (AAMC)/Center for Health Justice – Women’s Perspectives: Trust in the Reproductive Health Care System and Key Sources of Information (2025)

This polling brief “explores women’s levels of trust in the health care system, as well as in sources of reproductive health care medical standards, policies, and sources of information.” A nationally representative poll of 1,203 U.S. adult women (ages 18+) was conducted in March 2025. Highlights include the following: 1) “A large majority of women (84%) trust the health care system (defined as clinicians, hospitals and other health care facilities, and insurance plans). However, Gen Zers, millennials (born 1981-2012) (80%), and Black women (75%) expressed less trust compared with Gen Xers, baby boomers (born 1946-1980) (86%), and white women (84%)”; 2) “Most women (81%) trust reproductive health policies developed by the medical community, but only two-thirds of women (65%) said the same about such policies developed by insurance companies”; and 3) “Community-based organizations are the most trusted sources of reproductive health information (81%), while social media platforms are the least trusted (41%).”