Introduction: Respectful Maternity Care (RMC) emphasizes the dignity, autonomy, and rights
of women during childbirth, influencing maternal and neonatal outcomes. Despite its
importance, there is a lack of standardized tools to assess RMC.
Methods: A thorough search of databases (PubMed, MEDLINE, EBSCOhost, Google Scholar,
and Scopus) was performed for studies published from January 2015 to April 2024. The
inclusion criteria targeted studies that focused on the Designing, content validation, and
psychometric testing of Respectful Maternity Care (RMC) tools. Data extraction included
capturing tool descriptions, study methodologies, and psychometric properties.
Results: Out of 30 identified articles, 9 met the inclusion criteria. The reviewed tools,
developed through various methodologies, demonstrated strong psychometric properties. Key
tools include Lazzerini et al.'s WHO standards-based tool, Dwekat et al.'s mistreatment and
quality of care questionnaire, and Hajizadeh et al.'s Disrespect and Abuse Questionnaire, with
Cronbach's alpha values generally exceeding 0.80.
Conclusion: The review highlights robust development methodologies and underscores the
need for standardized approaches to ensure tool applicability across diverse settings.
Keywords: Quality of Maternity Care, RMC assessment, Psychometric evaluation,
maternal health, tool development, validity, reliability, narrative review
Publication date: 01/04/2026
https://www.ijbpas.com/pdf/2026/April/MS_IJBPAS_2026_10034.pdf
Download PDF
https://doi.org/10.31032/IJBPAS/2026/15.4.10034
