Effect of Respectful Maternity Care Educational Program on the Perception of Internship Nursing Students

Abstract

Background: Providing women with respectful maternity care will raise the standard of treatment; reduce theirpsychological strain, and lower maternal and newborn mortality rate. Aim: evaluate the effect of the respectfulmaternity care educational program on the perception of internship nursing students. Method: Quasi-experimental research design (pretest/posttest) was adopted. A convenience sample of 96 internship nursingstudents was recruited. This study was conducted at Minia University Hospital for Maternity and child. Miniagovernorate, Egypt. Four tools were utilized: A structured Interviewing questionnaire Schedule, an ObservedDisrespect, and Abuse Checklist, Students‟ Perceptions of Respectful Maternity Care Scale, and Perceptions ofChanged Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice after Intervention Scale. Results: The majority (88.5%) of thesample reported observing disrespectful or abuse behavior towards women by healthcare providers duringchildbirth. There were highly statistically significant differences between the pre- and post-intervention meanperception scores regarding respectful maternity care among the internship nursing students (p<0.001). Post-intervention, the majority of the internship students had a good understanding, and positive views, intended touse the obtained knowledge about respectful maternity care, and were aware of disrespectful care by otherhealthcare providers in their practice 57.3%, 53.1%, 52.1% 57.3% respectively. Conclusion: The perspective ofthe knowledge, attitude, and practice of the internship nursing students was enhanced by the respectfulmaternity care educational program. Recommendation: Raise awareness among healthcare professionals aboutthe value of respectful maternity care.