Promoting respectful maternity care in China

ISRCTN	ISRCTN90722773
DOI	https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN90722773
Sponsor	Fudan University
Funder	Project HOPE

Submission date: 23/04/2026
Registration date: 27/04/2026
Last edited: 27/04/2026

Recruitment status: Not yet recruiting
Overall study status: Ongoing
Condition category: Pregnancy and Childbirth

Prospectively registered

Protocol

Statistical analysis plan

Results

Individual participant data

Record updated in last year

Plain English summary of protocol

Not provided at time of registration

Contact information

Ms Han Xu
Public, Scientific

Fudan University, No. 130 Dong'an Road, Xuhui District
Shanghai
200032
China

Phone	+86 15821569975
Email	xh02186@163.com

Ms Hong Jiang
Principal investigator

Fudan University, No. 130 Dong'an Road, Xuhui District
Shanghai
200032
China

ORCID ID	0000-0002-2810-8000
Phone	+86 21 6417 9976
Email	h_jiang@fudan.edu.cn

Study information

Primary study design	Interventional
Allocation	Non-randomized controlled trial
Masking	Open (masking not used)
Control	Uncontrolled
Assignment	Parallel
Purpose	Supportive care
Scientific title	Effectiveness of respectful maternity care interventions in China
Study objectives
Ethics approval(s)	Approved 06/01/2026, Ethics Committee of the School of Public Health, Fudan University (Fudan University, No. 130 Dong'an Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai, 200032, China; +86 21 5423 7051; gwkyb@fudan.edu.cn), ref: H2026004
Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied	Respectful maternity care
Intervention	The intervention group will firstly receive Training of Trainers (TOT). Then the expanded training for the intervention group will be held in local areas. Based on the WHO Respectful Maternity Care guidelines, and other evidence-based maternal and child health care guidelines, the training material package will be developed with the overall goal of improving Respectful Maternity Care provided. The core components will include elaborating the core elements of Respectful Maternity Care at the knowledge level, internalizing its values and concepts at the attitude level, and applying communication and care giving skills at the behavioral level. The training will cover all domains of the Respectful Maternity Care. 1. Dignity and respect 2. Communication 3. Autonomous decision-making 4. Mistreatment and violence 5. Supportive care 6. Privacy and confidentiality In the control group, routine maternity care practices will be provided. Both the intervention and the control group will be followed up for nine to twelve months.
Intervention type	Other
Primary outcome measure(s)	Score of respectful maternity care measured using RMC Scale at baseline, nine to twelve months after intervention
Key secondary outcome measure(s)	Maternal satisfaction measured using Maternal Satisfaction Questionnaire at baseline, nine to twelve months after intervention Healthcare providers’ behavior measured using Healthcare Providers’ RMC Knowledge Assessment Questionnaire at pre-training, post-training
Completion date	31/12/2027

Eligibility

Participant type(s)
Age group	Adult
Lower age limit	18 Years
Upper age limit	60 Years
Sex	All
Target sample size at registration	6000
Key inclusion criteria	Health providers of maternity care: 1. Being a maternity care provider in participating hospitals Postpartum women: 1. Age ≥18 years 2. Able to communicate verbally and in writing 3. Utilized antenatal, intrapartum or/and postpartum care in participating hospitals
Key exclusion criteria	Postpartum women: 1. Presence of mental illness 2.Inability to communicate 3. Attended two or more hospitals for antenatal care
Date of first enrolment	06/05/2026
Date of final enrolment	31/08/2026

Locations

Countries of recruitment

China

Study participating centres

Results and Publications

Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share	No
IPD sharing plan summary	Not expected to be made available
IPD sharing plan

Editorial Notes

24/04/2026: Trial's existence confirmed by Ethics Committee of the School of Public Health, Fudan University.