Senegal has made remarkable progress in maternal health over the past decade, reducing its maternal mortality rate by more than half. However, despite these gains, many women continued to experience childbirth as a distressing and isolating process, often marked by fear, limited communication and a lack of emotional support within health facilities.
Experiences like that of Tina, a mother of three, reflect the challenges faced by many women across the country. While maternal health outcomes improved statistically, personal experiences of childbirth frequently remained traumatic, highlighting the need to go beyond survival and address the quality and humanity of care provided during pregnancy and delivery.
To respond to these gaps, Senegal’s Ministry of Health and Public Hygiene, with support from the World Health Organization and a major donor, introduced the Respectful Maternity Care initiative. This approach places dignity, emotional well-being and women’s choices at the centre of maternity care, aiming to ensure that every birth is not only safe but also a positive and empowering experience.
The initiative focuses on birth preparedness, improved labour monitoring through a simplified management guide and continuous psychological support for women throughout pregnancy and childbirth. Health workers are encouraged to engage more closely with expectant mothers, provide clear information and offer compassionate care tailored to individual needs.
At the Yeumbeul Reference Health Centre near Dakar, the approach has been implemented for two years, with pregnant women participating in regular preparation sessions led by trained midwives. These sessions help women understand the stages of labour, recognize danger signs, manage pain and prepare both physically and mentally for childbirth, while also strengthening trust between women and health providers.
Following a successful pilot phase, the programme has been expanded across health facilities in the Yeumbeul district, supported by the training of dozens of midwives and direct assistance to hundreds of women. For participants like Tina, this continuity of care transformed the birth experience, replacing fear with confidence and calm through familiar support and practical techniques learned during pregnancy.
The use of the new Labour Management Guide has further strengthened outcomes by enabling earlier detection of complications and allowing midwives to spend more time offering continuous, personalised support. Thousands of midwives nationwide have been trained in its use, contributing to reductions in preventable maternal and newborn deaths while promoting more humane care practices.
To sustain this shift, WHO has also supported stress-management training for health workers, recognising that the well-being of midwives is closely linked to the quality of care they provide. By improving communication, emotional support and working conditions, the initiative benefits both caregivers and mothers.
Together, these efforts are reshaping childbirth in Senegal, demonstrating how respectful, woman-centred care can transform maternal health beyond statistics. For many women, the result is a safer, more dignified and positive birth experience—one that strengthens families and communities one life at a time.
