Effect of a Respectful Maternity Care-Based Action Plan in Postpartum Care on Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes

NCT07280000 | Not Yet Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: ISB-WH-02
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 500
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study will examine whether a Respectful Maternity Care-based action plan can improve the quality of postpartum care and maternal and newborn outcomes. Nurses and midwives will receive a three-day interactive training about respectful, evidence-based postpartum care. After training, a unit-level action plan will be implemented, including supportive visits, educational materials, and feedback meetings. Women receiving routine postpartum care before the intervention will be compared with women receiving care after implementation. Outcomes will include respectful maternity care experiences, maternal satisfaction, exclusive breastfeeding at 6-8 weeks, maternal mental health, mother-infant bonding, and postpartum complications. The goal of this study is to promote respectful, high-quality postpartum care and improve the health and well-being of mothers and newborns.

Conditions

Postpartum Care; Maternal Health Care; Newborn Health; Postpartum Depression (PPD); Breastfeeding; Quality of Care; Maternal Satisfaction

Keywords

Respectful Maternity Care; Postpartum Care; Maternal Health; Newborn Health

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Respectful Maternity Care Score

  Respectful maternity care will be assessed using the Respectful Maternity Care (RMC) scale, which evaluates dignity, privacy, informed consent, emotional support, communication, and person-centered postpartum practices. Higher scores indicate higher levels of respectful maternity care.

  Baseline (within 24 hours postpartum) and 6 weeks postpartum

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Maternal Satisfaction with Postpartum Care

  At discharge (within 48 hours postpartum)

• Postpartum Depression Score

  6 weeks postpartum

• Adherence to Evidence-Based Postpartum Care Practices

  Immediately postpartum (within 24 hours)

Study Arms (2)

Control: Routine Postpartum Care

NO INTERVENTION

Participants in this arm will receive routine postpartum care practices currently provided at the study site, without exposure to the respectful maternity care training or action plan components. Usual clinical care protocols and standard postpartum follow-up procedures will be applied.

Intervention: Respectful Maternity Care Action Plan

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this arm will receive postpartum care delivered by nurses and midwives trained in the Respectful Maternity Care (RMC) Action Plan. The intervention includes structured training for postpartum professionals, implementation of evidence-based respectful maternity practices, and application of the developed RMC program content and postpartum care forms. Care will emphasize dignity, privacy, informed consent, emotional support, newborn bonding, breastfeeding support, and person-centered communication.

Behavioral: Respectful Maternity Care Training and Action Plan

Interventions

Respectful Maternity Care Training and Action Plan BEHAVIORAL

This intervention involves a structured Respectful Maternity Care (RMC) training program for nurses and midwives, followed by the implementation of an evidence-based RMC action plan during postpartum care. The training includes modules on dignity, privacy, informed consent, effective communication, emotional support, newborn bonding and breastfeeding support, and person-centered postpartum practices. Participants in the intervention arm will receive postpartum care according to the RMC guidelines and structured care forms developed for the study.

Intervention: Respectful Maternity Care Action Plan

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 49 Years
• Gender Eligibility Details: This study includes postpartum individuals who are biologically female.
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Postpartum women aged 18 years and older
• Gave birth at 37-42 gestational weeks (vaginal or cesarean)
• Have a single, healthy newborn
• No chronic medical conditions
• No history of high-risk pregnancy or fetal complications
• No communication barriers (e.g., visual or hearing impairment)
• Able to speak and understand Turkish
• Literate and able to read and write in Turkish

You may not qualify if:

• Development of maternal or neonatal complications during the postpartum follow-up period
• Inability to reach the mother at the 8-week postpartum follow-up

Sponsors & Collaborators

• ilayda sel: lead

Study Sites (1)

Bakırköy Dr. Sadi Konuk Training and Research Hospital

Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Bohren MA, Vogel JP, Hunter EC, Lutsiv O, Makh SK, Souza JP, Aguiar C, Saraiva Coneglian F, Diniz AL, Tuncalp O, Javadi D, Oladapo OT, Khosla R, Hindin MJ, Gulmezoglu AM. The Mistreatment of Women during Childbirth in Health Facilities Globally: A Mixed-Methods Systematic Review. PLoS Med. 2015 Jun 30;12(6):e1001847; discussion e1001847. doi: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1001847. eCollection 2015 Jun.

  PMID: 26126110 RESULT

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Depression, Postpartum; Breast Feeding

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Puerperal Disorders; Pregnancy Complications; Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications; Urogenital Diseases; Depressive Disorder; Mood Disorders; Mental Disorders; Feeding Behavior; Behavior

Study Officials

• İlayda Sel Bilim, MSc, RN

  Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

• İlkay Güngör Satılmış, Prof.

  Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa

  STUDY CHAIR

Central Study Contacts

İlayda Sel Bilim, MSc, RN

CONTACT

+90 530 844 95 27; ilayda.sel@iuc.edu.tr

İlkay Güngör Satılmış, Prof.

CONTACT

+90 212 224 2618; ilkay.gungorsatilmis@iuc.edu.tr

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NON RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: HEALTH SERVICES RESEARCH
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Research Assistant (Women Health and Diseases Nursing)

Model Details: This is a quasi-experimental, controlled before-after study with two parallel groups. Postpartum women receiving routine care before the training and action plan implementation constitute the control group, and postpartum women receiving care after the intervention constitute the intervention group.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: December 1, 2025
• First Posted: December 12, 2025
• Study Start: December 10, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): October 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2026
• Last Updated: December 12, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-12

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)