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This Brief is brought to you for free and open access by the Population Council.1 APRIL 2015 brief DEBRIEFING SESSIONS: CARING FOR THE CARERS Caring for the Carers is an activity aimed at reducing work-related stress—a major driver of disrespect and abuse ( [...] Pregnancy, labor and delivery are expected to be joyous moments for the mother, her family and the service providers. However, this is not always the case to due maternal complications or even death. [...] They do not want hear you, perhaps it is because you lacked supplies which they [supervisors] should have given you” —MIDWIFE, DISTRICT HOSPITAL The Heshima project developed a package of interventions at the policy, facility and community level. [...] The project tested the use of debriefing sessions as an approach to reduce stress related drivers of D&A at the individual and team levels in order to promote RMC. [...] This intervention is part of the respectful maternity care (RMC) Resource Package developed by the partners of the Kenya Heshima Project and focuses on policy, health system and community levels. The package includes the most effective interventions, and provides practical, low cost, and easily adaptable strategies for facilities and communities to reduce disrespectful and abusive treatment d [...] RMC refers to the humane and dignified treatment of a childbearing woman throughout her pregnancy, birth, and the postnatal period. [...] CARING FOR THE CARERS DEBRIEFING SESSIONS: Involve group and individual counseling sessions for health providers and others to deal with this stress. Maternity providers meet to discuss traumatic events or critical incidents and share their experiences, impressions and thoughts on an event with the aim of preventing unnecessary psychological effects. Interventions can be [...] PROMOTING RESPECTFUL MATERNITY CARE RESOURCE PACKAGE2 OBJECTIVES The main aim of these sessions is to increase teamwork, group support and cohesion in the maternity unit. 1. [...] This became one of the most appreciated interventions for health care providers in dealing with drivers of D&A. [...] The contents of this report are the sole responsibility of Population Council and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States government.