Supporting Respectful Maternity Care for Somali Women

Many also encounter language barriers and limited access to culturally responsive maternity services. These structural and interpersonal challenges may reduce women’s opportunities to participate in decisions about their care and increase the risk of disrespectful treatment, negatively affecting childbirth experiences, trust in healthcare, and future care-seeking.

The purpose of this project is to explore how Respectful Maternity Care (RMC) is experienced, shaped, and strengthened for Somali women in Sweden. The project is a collaboration between KI and the University of Hargeisa, Somaliland, which is central to ensuring cultural relevance, contextual understanding, and equitable knowledge exchange throughout the research process. The partnership also provides a strong foundation for adapting and scaling the findings to Somaliland and other settings with Somali populations.

Using complementary quantitative and qualitative methods, the project will examine the prevalence of disrespectful maternity care and explore experiences of care from the perspectives of both women and healthcare providers. Co-creation is a key component of the project and a reference group comprising Somali women, stakeholders, and representatives from user organizations will contribute throughout the project to ensure that the research addresses the priorities and perspectives of those most affected. The knowledge generated will inform the development of more equitable, respectful, and person-centred maternity care and contribute to reducing inequalities in maternal health among Somali women.