Educational Interventions to Improve Respectful Maternity Care Among Midwives in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Narrative Review

Background

Disrespect, abuse, and obstetric violence experienced by laboring women in healthcare facilities represent severe violations of fundamental human rights, major barriers to maternal health service utilization, and critical indicators of sub-optimal care quality across low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Practising midwives and skilled birth attendants operate at the frontlines of intrapartum care, yet frequently function within under-resourced, highly stressed healthcare systems characterized by institutionalized power hierarchies, chronic staffing shortages, and professional burnout. This narrative review synthesizes empirical evidence regarding in-service educational interventions designed to foster Respectful Maternity Care (RMC) among practising midwives in LMICs, specifically excluding pre-service student cohorts.