Ethical Dimensions of Maternal Compliance with Medical Guidelines in Obstetric and Midwifery Healthcare Settings

Evaluating maternal compliance with medical ethics during childbirth is essential for enhancing healthcare outcomes. Research investigates maternal attitudes toward key medical ethics standards, including Self-determination, ethical responsibility, equity, and beneficence. A total of 475 women participated, completing a 50-item Likert-scale questionnaire designed to assess these principles. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) is utilized to evaluate the construct strength of the implement, and the data are examined utilizing Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) 28 and Analysis of Moment Structures (AMOS) 28. The analysis revealed significant positive associations between Self-determination and beneficence, as well as between beneficence and Ethical Responsibility. Furthermore, both direct and indirect relationships are identified between Self-determination and Equity, with increased Self-determination leading to a direct rise in Equity and an indirect increase mediated by beneficence. These findings underscore the importance of respecting Self-determination to improve maternal compliance with medical guidelines. Prioritizing Self-determination enhances maternal birth experiences; self-determination has a significant correlation with beneficence (0.62) and equity (0.48). Enhancing self-determination-driven care enhances Ethical responsibility (0.49), providing ethical, patient-centered obstetric care and encouraging legislators to improve maternal healthcare frameworks. The outcomes offer precious insights for healthcare decision-makers and practitioners planning to incorporate ethical principles into maternal healthcare practices. This approach has the potential to elevate the quality of care in obstetric settings, ultimately contributing to better healthcare delivery for mothers during childbirth.