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. 2025 Dec;171(3):983-992.
doi: 10.1002/ijgo.70513. Epub 2025 Sep 30.

FIGO statement on respectful care: Addressing disrespectful maternity care

Jezid Miranda  1   2 , Hasmik Bareghamyan  3 , Michelle N S Therrien  4   5 , Andre Lalonde  6   7 , Margit Steinholt  8   9 , Francesca Palestra  10 , Debra Pascali-Bonaro  11 , Mindaugas Kliucinskas  12 , María A Basavilvazo Rodríguez  13 , Garang Ajak  14 , Eliana Amaral  15 , Pius Okong  16 , Birgitta Essèn  17 , Bo Jacobsson  18   19   20 , Suellen Miller  4 ; FIGO Committee on Health Systems Strengthening and Respectful Care
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FIGO statement on respectful care: Addressing disrespectful maternity care

Jezid Miranda et al. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2025 Dec.

Abstract

The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) Committee on Health Systems Strengthening and Respectful Care recognizes the detrimental effects of disrespectful and abusive practices within maternity care on maternal and neonatal health outcomes. In response, the committee advocates for the implementation of strategic, evidence-based interventions aimed at safeguarding women from substandard and disrespectful treatment during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. This statement presents FIGO's recommendations for adopting respectful maternity care into health systems. The proposed policy interventions and clinical strategies are designed to foster compassionate, person-centered, and culturally competent care, thereby contributing to improved maternal and perinatal outcomes globally.

Keywords: birth; childbirth; evidence‐based treatment; obstetric violence; respectful maternity care.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Substandard and disrespectful practices (adapted from Tables 1 and 2 [Ayres‐de‐Campos et al. 12 ] with permission from Elsevier).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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