Why do some health care providers disrespect and abuse women during childbirth in India?
Why do some health care providers disrespect and abuse women during childbirth in India?
Background
Disrespect and abuse during childbirth can result in fear of childbirth. Consequently, women may be discouraged to seek care, increasing the likelihood for women to choose elective cesarean section in order to avoid humiliation, postnatal depression and even maternal mortality. This study investigates the causes underlying mistreatment of women during childbirth by health care providers in India, where evidence of disrespect and abuse has been reported.
Methods
Qualitative research was undertaken involving 34 in-depth interviews with midwifery and nursing leaders from India who represent administration, advocacy, education, regulation, research and service provision at state and national levels. Data are analysed thematically with NVivo12. The analysis added value by bringing an international perspective from interviews with midwifery leaders from Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
Findings
The factors leading to disrespect and abuse of women relate to characteristics of both women and their midwives. Relevant woman-related attributes include her age, gender, physical appearance and education, extending to the social environment including her social status, family support, culture of abuse, myths around childbirth and sex-based discrimination. Midwife-related factors include gender, workload, medical hierarchy, bullying and powerlessness.
Discussion
The intersectionality of factors associated with mistreatment during childbirth operate at individual, infrastructural, social and policy levels for both the women and nurse-midwives, and these factors could exacerbate existing gender-based inequalities. Maternal health policies should address the complex interplay of these factors to ensure a positive birthing experience for women in India.
Conclusion
Maternal health interventions could improve by integrating women-centred protocols and monitoring measures to ensure respectful and dignified care during childbirth.
Disrespect and abuse during childbirth, India, Midwifery and nursing leaders, Obstetric violence, Respectful maternity care
e49-e59
Mayra, Kaveri
26fbb2ee-a058-46cf-a8cc-c527d88da0b5
Matthews, Zoë
ebaee878-8cb8-415f-8aa1-3af2c3856f55
Padmadas, Sabu S.
64b6ab89-152b-48a3-838b-e9167964b508
1 February 2022
Mayra, Kaveri
26fbb2ee-a058-46cf-a8cc-c527d88da0b5
Matthews, Zoë
ebaee878-8cb8-415f-8aa1-3af2c3856f55
Padmadas, Sabu S.
64b6ab89-152b-48a3-838b-e9167964b508
Mayra, Kaveri, Matthews, Zoë and Padmadas, Sabu S.
(2022)
Why do some health care providers disrespect and abuse women during childbirth in India?
Women and Birth, 35 (1), .
(doi:10.1016/j.wombi.2021.02.003).
Abstract
Background
Disrespect and abuse during childbirth can result in fear of childbirth. Consequently, women may be discouraged to seek care, increasing the likelihood for women to choose elective cesarean section in order to avoid humiliation, postnatal depression and even maternal mortality. This study investigates the causes underlying mistreatment of women during childbirth by health care providers in India, where evidence of disrespect and abuse has been reported.
Methods
Qualitative research was undertaken involving 34 in-depth interviews with midwifery and nursing leaders from India who represent administration, advocacy, education, regulation, research and service provision at state and national levels. Data are analysed thematically with NVivo12. The analysis added value by bringing an international perspective from interviews with midwifery leaders from Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
Findings
The factors leading to disrespect and abuse of women relate to characteristics of both women and their midwives. Relevant woman-related attributes include her age, gender, physical appearance and education, extending to the social environment including her social status, family support, culture of abuse, myths around childbirth and sex-based discrimination. Midwife-related factors include gender, workload, medical hierarchy, bullying and powerlessness.
Discussion
The intersectionality of factors associated with mistreatment during childbirth operate at individual, infrastructural, social and policy levels for both the women and nurse-midwives, and these factors could exacerbate existing gender-based inequalities. Maternal health policies should address the complex interplay of these factors to ensure a positive birthing experience for women in India.
Conclusion
Maternal health interventions could improve by integrating women-centred protocols and monitoring measures to ensure respectful and dignified care during childbirth.
Text
Why do some health care providers_Manuscript_V10_1802
- Accepted Manuscript
More information
Accepted/In Press date: 19 February 2021
e-pub ahead of print date: 5 March 2021
Published date: 1 February 2022
Additional Information:
Funding Information:
This study is funded by The Burdett Trust for Nursing under grant number SBZA101010662430876 and the Royal Norwegian Embassy under the Norway India Partnership Initiative (NIPI) Scientific Research Project reference number IND- 16/0008 .
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021
Keywords:
Disrespect and abuse during childbirth, India, Midwifery and nursing leaders, Obstetric violence, Respectful maternity care
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 449302
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/449302
ISSN: 1871-5192
PURE UUID: 6c6b7aaf-d2a3-4d9b-a425-a1b929883c39
Catalogue record
Date deposited: 21 May 2021 16:34
Last modified: 17 Mar 2024 06:28
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