A conceptual framework to promote respectful maternity care

Background. This study presents a conceptual framework for respectful, woman-centred maternity care, integrating insights from the literature, systems theory, and critical theory. The framework incorporates healthcare institution and provider factors, ensuring dignity, respect and high-quality care throughout the maternity experience. Objectives. To outline the development process of this framework, which serves as a foundation for promoting respectful maternity care (RMC) in South Africa’s public healthcare settings. Methods. A theory-generative methodology was applied, using both inductive and deductive strategies to derive key conclusions, ensuring a comprehensive approach to theory construction. Results. The framework identifies and describes essential concepts that foster synergy in promoting RMC. By integrating diverse knowledge sources, it establishes a strong theoretical foundation, linking its principles to RMC and broader quality healthcare standards. Conclusion. The conceptual framework provides a structured approach for enhancing maternity care through a woman-centred perspective. It underscores the value of combining multiple viewpoints to inform maternity care strategies, aiming to improve the overall maternal experience and healthcare outcomes.