Respectful maternity care in Odesa, Ukraine during a time of war

Abstract

Maternity care given by clinicians during labor and delivery is influenced by physical and medical resources, the training of the medical providers, and implicit societal attitudes towards pregnant people. An increasing body of evidence has revealed disrespectful and abusive care in facility-based childbirth as a barrier to maternal and child health. Providers have noted poor work environments, lack of staffing, and attitudes toward marginalized groups as barriers to respectful maternity care. What has not been studied is the impact of disaster and violence on the delivery of respectful maternity care. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the state of obstetrical care in a maternity hospital in Odesa, Ukraine during a time of full sale invasion.