Maathru Samman Pants: An initiative towards “Respectful Maternity Care”

Respectful maternity care is the new approach under National Health Mission providing services towards improved satisfaction of pregnant women while in the health facility. Maathru Samman Pants is a new transformational initiative respecting both the psychological and physiological concerns of the pregnant woman and her family during labor. Maathru Samman Pant is a pant with vulval opening which is appropriate in size to perform procedures like per vaginal examination, episiotomy, forceps, ventouse application, bladder catheterization, and delivery of baby and placenta with flap on the front and the back for privacy in various positions. This short communication outlines the background, features, benefits, and future directions of Maathru Samman Pants. I emphasize the need for dignified obstetric care, ensuring that all women receive high-quality, equitable, and respectful maternity care in all health facilities. To the present published literature, Maathru Samman Pants is the first of its kind in India for pregnant woman in normal labor. Innovation is vital to address patient needs in present tumultuous environment. Respectful maternity care standards need to be the designed in continuum with patient's perspectives. Therefore, I call on health system across various states to introduce Maathru Samman Pants, like Andhra Pradesh, thereby ensuring the respect of women's basic human right of dignity which is beyond the prevention of mortality and morbidity. The implications of this innovation (Maathru Samman Pants) should not be limited to India only; rather, it should be contemplated by the other health facilities worldwide.