WOMEN’S FRIENDLY CARE

Mrs.K.Punithalakshmi

Principal cum Professor

JIET College of Nursing

Jodhpur

Objectives

• By the end of this session participants will be able to:
• Define woman friendly care.
• Describe cares which are woman friendly.
• Describe examples of cares which are not woman friendly.

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WOMEN FRIENDLY CARE

• Women friendly care is an approach to care giving with the goal of creating an enabling environment at all level to improve women’s access to safe motherhood and reproductive health services

How would you define “women-friendly care”?

• Provides services that are acceptable to the woman:
• Respects beliefs, traditions, and culture
• Includes family, partner, or other support person in care
• Provides relevant and feasible advice
• Empowers woman and her family to become active participants in care

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• Considers the rights of the woman:
• Right to information about her health
• Right to be informed about what to expect during visit
• Obtains permission/consent prior to exams and procedures
• Ensures that all healthcare staff use good interpersonal skills
• Considers the emotional, psychological, and social well-being of the woman

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Three pillars in providing women friendly care

• Quality care – Provided by skilled staff, individualized, client centered, culturally sensitive clearly communicated and considers believes and values)

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Cont...

Women’s empowerment in decision making

• Empower women and their families to Be active participants in MNH care, identify key decision makers and ensure they understand the need for timely action in the event of a problem

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• Evidence based care – use of the Partograph, Magnesium Sulphate for eclampsia, Active Management of the Third Stage of Labour, and avoids harmful practices such as: manual exploration of the uterus, routine use of lithotomy/ supine position during labour, routine use of episiotomy, restricting fluids during labor, stretching the perineum during the 2nd stage of labor.

Why is women-friendly care important?�

• Women-friendly care is life-saving as studies have shown that women may refuse to seek care from a provider who “abuses” them or does not treat them well, even if the provider is skilled in preventing and managing of complications.

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Purpose of advocating

• To improve the quality of health care
• Responsiveness of health providers to meet the needs of women
• The need for evidence‐based, technically competent care

Lack of ‘Women Friendliness’

• Has a greater impact on the health of poorer women who are at greater risk of maternal mortality and morbidity.

Some examples of women friendly care are:

• Individualize care to woman’s needs. Each woman has a different economical, health, Cultural and social background,
• Awareness of traditional and cultural beliefs regarding pregnancy and childbirth, e.g. special ceremonies and practices related to childbirth,
• Provide culturally sensitive care for mother and her baby, e.g. positioning during labor, avoiding unnecessary exposure of her body parts,

Cont…

• Encourages bonding and keeps the baby with the mother,
• Places baby on mother’s abdomen (at breast) immediately after birth,
• Speaks to the woman in clear and language that she understands,

Cont…

• Is aware of who makes decisions in the woman’s life and involves that person in discussions and decisions,
• Allows family members to accompany her in labour.

Some examples of non-women friendly care may include:

• No respect woman or her family, culture or background,
• Rude, offensive, demeaning language used by health personnel,
• Physically restrains, pushes or hits the woman,

Cont…

• Insists on routine procedures that are convenient for the healthcare provider but may be shameful to the woman, e.g. lithotomy position, routine episiotomy, frequent vaginal exams, assembly‐line fashion of care, excludes partner or family companion from care
• Separates mother and baby.

Summary

• The “women-friendly” approach focuses on the rights of women to have access to quality care for them selves as individuals & as mothers, and for their infants.
• Health services can be considered women-friendly when they (WHO/UNICEF/UNFPA):
• Are available, accessible and affordable
• Provide safe and effective health and maternal care
• Motivate providers,
• Empower users and satisfy their needs

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THANK YOU