A mixed-method exploration of the level of respect provided to women during childbirth at healthcare facilities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

The study has provided awareness of those aspects of maternity care service provision which require attention, including better training for healthcare providers, updating policies and developing educational programmes to help to promote respectful maternity care. This will improve communication between women and healthcare providers, enhance practitioners’ knowledge, improve resources to provide high-quality care within maternity care services and ensure that women’s health rights are met during childbirth.

This mixed-method study is the first of its kind in this region as the systemic review revealed that no previous research has considered respectful maternity care in the KSA. Furthermore, this study contributes to the body of knowledge concerning respectful maternity care, women’s health care rights, and maternal and foetal healthcare provision. The findings will help healthcare providers including midwives, nurses and physicians, to provide maternity care services which are culturally sensitive and evidence-based to promote respectful maternity care and improve women’s health and access to maternity healthcare facilities in the KSA.<br><i><br><br></i>