Maternal health

In South Africa, many women have reported that their experiences of giving birth in a health facility have not been positive or respectful. Women have described experiences such as being spoken to harshly, being denied privacy, or being prevented from having a companion present. These experiences can leave women feeling frightened and unsafe and can discourage them from seeking care in the future.

Professor Tanya Doherty, from the South African Medical Research Council, is leading the Strengthening Teamwork and Respect (STAR) project. As part of STAR, Doherty's team have worked with nurses and doctors in rural hospitals to improve how women are treated during labour and birth.

The team trained 'local champions' who led participatory learning sessions, where maternity staff reflected on their challenges and created their own solutions. These included allowing birth companions, improving privacy, and strengthening communication with women. After one year, hospitals showed better teamwork and women reported more positive experiences of care.

The significance of this research lies in showing that respectful maternity care can be improved in resource-limited settings using a low-cost, practical approach. STAR builds on the skills, experience and motivation of existing health workers, and changes are immediately embedded into routine practice.

With the Changing Policy and Practice (CPP) Award, Doherty's team will be able to share these findings more widely, offering an important opportunity to influence maternity care practice and policy, and helping more women experience childbirth with dignity, respect and support.