A study to assess the Knowledge, Attitude and Barriers in providing respectful Maternity Care during perinatal period among nursing officers of Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi

Abstract

Introduction: Childbirth is an important event in women’s life and all women need and deserve to receive respectful care during labour and child birth. Respectful Maternity Care (RMC) represents a comprehensive and ethical approach to maternity services, emphasizing the fundamental human rights of women and newborns during childbirth and maternity care. Objectives: [1] To assess the knowledge, attitude, and barriers in providing Respectful Maternity Care among nursing officers. [2] To seek the relationship between knowledge and attitude of nursing officers in providing Respectful Maternity Care. [3] To find out the association between knowledge and attitude of nursing officers in providing Respectful Maternity Care with selected demographic variables. Research Methodology: The study used a descriptive survey research design including 200 nursing officers working in the maternity unit of the Safdarjung hospital, selected via purposive sampling technique. Data collected through structured questionnaire and technique used was questioning. Results: The findings of the study indicated that majority of nursing officers (79.0%) were from age group 26-35 years, 61.5% were qualified as B.Sc. Nursing. Most nursing officers were attended the training on Respectful Maternity care. The researcher concluded that majority of nurses (59.5%) had fair knowledge and favourable attitude in providing respectful maternity care. The staff shortage (89.0%) and heavy workload (86.0%) were the major barriers felt by most of the nurses. The researcher found a positive correlation between knowledge scores and attitude scores. The computed Chi-square value with selected variables previously attended training, conferences and workshops (0.002) were found to be statistically significant at 0.05 level of significant. The computed Chi-square value with selected variables such as age of nursing officers (0.024), marital status (0.007) and previously attended training, conferences, workshops (0.006) were found to be statistically significant.