Although maternal mortality declined 44% globally between 1990 and 2015,1 this falls short of the 75% reduction targeted in the Millennium Development Goals, and rates remain unacceptably high—particularly in low- and middle- income countries (LMICs). Non- use of maternal health services and poor quality care are critical factors contributing to these deaths. Accumulated evidence suggests poor person- centered maternity care (PCMC)—manifested as disrespect, abuse, and neglect—contributes significantly to poor maternal and child health (MCH) out-comes. This has led to calls to action on MCH quality of care that emphasize PCMC as necessary to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals target of less than 70 maternal deaths per 100 000 live births. Person- centered maternity care is “respectful of and responsive to individual women and their families’ preferences, needs, and values”—in accordance with the Institute of Medicine’s definition of person- centered care. The concepts of respectful maternity care (RMC) are incorporated in PCMC as part of the broader interest in person- centered care, and capture the experience dimensions in the WHO vision for quality of maternal and newborn health.