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

Background: Providing women with respectful maternity care will raise the standard of treatment; reduce their psychological strain, and lower maternal and newborn mortality rate. Aim: evaluate the effect of the respectful maternity 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 nursing students was recruited. This study was conducted at Minia University Hospital for Maternity and child. Minia governorate, Egypt. Four tools were utilized: A structured Interviewing questionnaire Schedule, an Observed Disrespect, and Abuse Checklist, Students‟ Perceptions of Respectful Maternity Care Scale, and Perceptions of Changed Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice after Intervention Scale. Results: The majority (88.5%) of the sample reported observing disrespectful or abuse behavior towards women by healthcare providers during childbirth. There were highly statistically significant differences between the pre-and post-intervention mean perception 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 to use the obtained knowledge about respectful maternity care, and were aware of disrespectful care by other healthcare providers in their practice 57.3%, 53.1%, 52.1% 57.3% respectively. Conclusion : The perspective of the knowledge, attitude, and practice of the internship nursing students was enhanced by the respectful maternity care educational program. Recommendation : Raise awareness among healthcare professionals about the value of respectful maternity care .