Experiences and perceptions of respectful maternity care during childbirth in health facilities of Eastern province of Rwanda: An Appreciative Inquiry

Abstract Introduction : The World Health Organization (WHO) emphasized the importance of positive childbirth experiences by treating mothers with respect and dignity. Unfortunately, instances of negative childbirth experiences have been documented in several countries,including Rwanda. By examining the best experiences and practices, it becomes possible to discover realistic and culturally accepted sustainable solutions within resource-limited settings such as Rwanda. The objective of this study was to investigate and describe how mothers in the Eastern province of Rwanda perceive and appreciate their own childbirth experiences in relation to RMC. Methods : We employed a qualitative, exploratory, descriptive, and contextual design to examine and describe mothers' positive experiences and perceptions regarding RMC of recent labor and childbirth. The sampling was purposive, focusing on mothers who reported being treated with respect during labor and childbirth in general. A total of 30 mothers were selected from five hospitals in the Eastern Province of Rwanda. To collect the data, we conducted in-depth interviews (IDIs) using questions of the 5D cycle of the Appreciative Inquiry (AI) method. Thematic analysis was employed, and NVivo 12 was utilized to organize the codes and create a codebook. Results : The three main themes and subthemes emerged; 1) Appreciated care encompassed compassionate care and emotional support, autonomy and self-determination, timely care, privacy and confidentiality preservation, and an enabling environment. 2) Perceived greatest care, which focused on respectful care meaning and happiness motives. 3) Suggested strategies, which involved women's self-control, providers' behaviors, and caring leadership. Conclusion : The findings revealed that appreciated care is crucial and integral to the entire birth process. We recommend comprehensive collaboration between services users, healthcare providers (HCPs) and health care management. These measures will help to maintain and reinforce the positive aspects associated with RMC, as reported by the mothers. Furthermore, due to the sensitive nature of RMC, we suggest conducting further studies utilizing the AI approach.