The right to dignity and equality in health care
Health is a fundamental part of the UN Conventions of Human Rights and essential for the exercise of other human rights.
A human rights perspective and the right to the highest attainable standard of health is a major challenge in maternal health care today. This right is frequently violated in relation to availability, accessibility, acceptability and quality in maternity services.
The acceptability and quality of maternity care services include treating women with dignity, creating trust and preventing harm. In this context, we need to consider:
- the right to available and accessible health‐care services, for example the number of health‐care providers differs considerably between urban and rural areas and the availability of birth centres and birth at home options are restricted;
- the right to good quality health‐care services, for example less than 10% of women have access to evidenced based primary maternity care, through continuity of midwifery carer; and
- the right to dignity and equality in health care by ensuring a positive experience and providing respectful woman-centred care throughout pregnancy and during labour in a culture of respect where a woman’s preferences are listened to.