Childbirth is supposed to the most beautiful moment a woman experiences. But our callous systems, compounded by this pandemic, often makes it a nightmare
Respectful maternal care assumes great significance in times of a pandemic. Many cases have been reported by the media about pregnant women being denied admissions to hospitals, of being referred from one facility to another, with some even delivering by the roadside.
Currently, women may shy away from accessing facilities due to fear of COVID-19 infections, and this may be compounded by fear of disrespect, discrimination, and abuse, which is a more powerful deterrent to the use of skilled care than geographic and financial obstacles. It has taken years for India to get to the point where women from all socio-economic sections of society decide and opt for institutional deliveries instead of home births, and these gains must not be lost.
