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Abuya, T., Waaren, E.C., Miller, N., Njuki, R., Ndwiga, C., Maranga, A., Mbehero, F., Njeru, A., Bellows, B. and Dowdy, W.D. (2015) Exploring the Prevalence of Disrespect and Abuse during Childbirth in Kenya. PLoS ONE, 10, e0123606.

has been cited by the following article:

• TITLE: Prevalence of Disrespectful Maternity Care and Abuse among Women Seeking Maternity Care Services at the Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi: A Cross-Sectional Descriptive Study

  AUTHORS: Ondieki Peter Atai, Hannah Inyama, Sabina Wakasiaka, Joyce Jebet, Jennifer Oyieke

  KEYWORDS: Disrespect, Abuse

  JOURNAL NAME: Open Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vol.8 No.6, June 25, 2018

  ABSTRACT: Background: Respectful Maternity Care (RMC) is a basic human right for every childbearing woman. Acts of disrespectful maternity care and abuse are commonly reported worldwide and are recognized as a powerful deterrence to facility based childbirth than the traditionally known accessibility. In Kenya, acts of disrespect and abuse are frequently reported. Objectives of the study: To assess the prevalence of disrespectful maternity care and abuse among women seeking maternity care services at the Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi. Methods: This study was conducted at the Kenyatta National Hospital maternity wards. A descriptive study design was employed and targeted 164 respondents. The study utilized an interviewer administered questionnaire and an observational checklist to collect required data. Participants were sampled using simple random sampling method. Data was collected between July 15th and July 30th 2017 and was entered, cleaned and analyzed using SPSS 20. Results were presented in descriptive form, figures and tables. Results: Out of the targeted 164 participants, 152 (93%) women were interviewed during the study. The study found that women experienced at least some form of disrespect and abuse while seeking maternity care services at the Kenyatta National hospital. In general, prevalence of disrespectful maternity care and abuse ranged from 9% for discriminatory care to as high as 32% for non-privacy of care. Untimely care/abandonment of care was 22%, similar to non-consensual care (22%). Prevalence for non-confidential care was 28%. Majority of the women who experienced disrespect and abuse chose to resort to acquiescence whereby they just complied or kept quiet. The study found a strong association between marital status and physical abuse of women in labor 95% CI (P = 0.029). Conclusion: There are significant levels of disrespect and abuse among women seeking maternity care services at the Kenyatta National Hospital. The hospital management and the reproductive health department of the ministry of health should work towards ensuring that women seeking maternity care services at the facility do not endure disrespect and abuse.