Compendium on Respectful Maternal and Newborn Care

The compendium supports efforts to end mistreatment and achieve respectful maternal and newborn care, marking a decade since the WHO’s 2014 statement on the prevention of disrespect and abuse during facility-based childbirth. Despite substantial progress in understanding and measuring respectful care large-scale implementation remains limited. Emerging research has highlighted small-scale interventions, but there is still much to learn about the most effective approaches.

The purpose of the compendium is to consolidate key evidence, tools and resources to support the practical implementation of respectful maternal and newborn care across different contexts. It provides programme managers with essential background to build a foundational understanding of mistreatment and respectful care. As such, it serves as a comprehensive resource that integrates theory with practice.