Prevalence of different variations of non-consented care during the childbirth process in Mexico by geographical regions: comparing ENDIREH survey data from 2016 to 2021.

INTRODUCTION: Non-consented care, a form of obstetric violence involving the lack of informed consent for procedures, is a common but little-understood phenomenon in the global public health arena. The aim of this secondary analysis was to measure the prevalence and assess change over time of non-consented care during childbirth in Mexico in 2016 and 2021, as well as to examine the association of sociodemographic, pregnancy-, and childbirth-factors with this type of violence. METHODS: We measured the prevalence of non-consented care and three of its variations, forced sterilization or contraception, forced cesarean section, and forced consent on paperwork, during childbirth in Mexico for 2016 (N = 24,036) and 2021 (N = 19,322) using data from Mexico's cross-sectional National Survey on the Dynamics of Household Relationships (ENDIREH). Weighted data were stratified by geographical regions. We performed adjusted logistic regression analyses to explore associations. RESULTS: The national prevalence of non-consented care and one of its variations, pressure to get a contraceptive method, increased from 2016 to 2021. A decrease in the prevalence was observed for forced contraception or sterilization without knowledge, forcing women to sign paperwork, and non-consented cesarean sections nationally and in most regions. Women between the ages of 26 and 35 years, married, cohabiting with partner, living in urban settings, who do not identify as Indigenous, and who received prenatal services or gave birth at the Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS) facilities experienced a higher prevalence of non-consented care. Being 26 years of age and older, living in a rural setting, experiencing stillbirths in the last five years, having a vaginal delivery, receiving prenatal services at IMSS, or delivering at a private facility were significantly associated with higher odds of reporting non-consented care. CONCLUSION: While a decrease in most of the variations of non-consented care was found, the overall prevalence of non-consented care and, in one of its variations, pressure to get contraceptives, increased at a national and regional level. Our findings suggest the need to enforce current laws and strengthen health systems, paying special attention to the geographical regions and populations that have experienced higher reported cases of this structural problem.

When addressing resources is not enough: lessons learned from a respectful maternal and neonatal care provider training intervention evaluation in Kenya and Tanzania.

BACKGROUND: Respectful Maternal and Neonatal Care (RMNC) maintains and respects a pregnant person's dignity, privacy, informed choice, and confidentiality free from harm and mistreatment. It strives for a positive pregnancy and post-pregnancy care experiences for pregnant people and their families, avoiding any form of obstetric violence. Though RMNC is now widely accepted as a priority in obstetric care, there is a gap in resources and support tools for healthcare wproviders to clearly understand the issue and change long-established practices such as non-humanized caesarean sections. MSI Reproductive Choices (MSI) manages 31 maternities across 7 countries with a zero-tolerance approach towards disrespectful maternity care and obstetric violence. MSI developed and implemented a hybrid training package, which includes an online module and 1-day in-person workshop that allows healthcare providers to explore their beliefs and attitudes towards RMNC. It leverages methodologies used in Values-Clarification-Attitudes-Transformation (VCAT) workshops and behaviour change approaches. METHODS: The impact of this training intervention was measured from the healthcare providers' and patients' perspectives. Patient experience of (dis)respectful care was collected from a cross-sectional survey of antenatal and postnatal patients attending MSI maternities in Kenya and Tanzania before and following the RMNC training intervention. Healthcare providers completed pre- and post-workshop surveys at day 1, 90 and 180 to measure any changes in their knowledge, attitudes and perception of intended behaviours regarding RMNC. RESULTS: The results demonstrate that healthcare provider knowledge, attitudes and perceived RMNC practices can be improved with this training interventions. Patients also reported a more positive experience of their maternity care following the training. CONCLUSION: RMNC is a patient-centred care priority in all MSI maternities. The training bridges the gap in resources currently available to support changes in healthcare wproviders' attitudes and behaviours towards provision of RMNC. Ensuring health system infrastructure supports compassionate obstetric care represents only the first step towards ensuring RMNC. The results from the evaluation of this RMNC provider training intervention demonstrates how healthcare provider knowledge and attitudes may represent a bottleneck to ensuring RMNC that can be overcome using VCAT and behaviour change approaches.

European Association of Perinatal Medicine (EAPM), European Board and College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (EBCOG), European Midwives Association (EMA). Joint position statement: Substandard and disrespectful care in labour - because words matter.

Substandard or disrespectful care during labour should be of serious concern for healthcare professionals, as it can affect one of the most important events in a woman's life. Substandard care refers to the use of interventions that are not considered best-practice, to the inadequate execution of interventions, to situations where best-practice interventions are withheld from patients, or there is lack of adequate informed consent. Disrespectful care refers to forms of verbal and non-verbal communication that affect patients' dignity, individuality, privacy, intimacy, or personal beliefs. There are many possible underlying causes for substandard and disrespectful care in labour, including difficulties in modifying behaviours, judgmental or paternalistic attitudes, personal interests and individualism, and a human tendency to make less arduous, less difficult, or less stressful clinical decisions. The term "obstetric violence" is used in some parts of the world to describe various forms of substandard and disrespectful care in labour, but suggests that it is mainly carried out by obstetricians and is a serious form of aggression, carried out with the intent to cause harm. We believe that this term should not be used, as it does not help to identify the underlying problem, its causes, or its correction. In addition, it is generally seen by obstetricians and other healthcare professionals as an unjust and offensive term, generating a defensive and less collaborative mindset. We reach out to all individuals and institutions sharing the common goal of improving women's experience during labour, to work together to address the underlying causes of substandard and disrespectful care, and to develop common strategies to deal with this problem, based on mutual comprehension, trust and respect.

[Breastfeeding behind bars: Experiences of incarcerated mothers in the Spanish penitentiary system]. / Lactancia materna entre rejas: experiencias de las madres encarceladas en el sistema penitenciario español.

This research aims to analyze the breastfeeding experiences of incarcerated mothers in the prisons of the Spanish penitentiary system. Additionally, it explores whether these mothers have perceived practices related to obstetric violence during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. An exploratory-descriptive study was conducted using a qualitative approach and a critical ethnographic method. Fieldwork, including participant observation and semi-structured interviews, was carried out between December 2021 and April 2022. The study involved 30 adult women from Africa, Europe, Eastern Europe, and Latin America, all serving sentences with their infants in Mother Units located in the Spanish cities of Alicante, Barcelona, Madrid, and Seville. The main findings highlight the need for penitentiary policies with a gender and feminist perspective. These policies should aim to eliminate severe inequalities and discriminations faced by incarcerated women while protecting the basic rights of both mothers and infants.

Esta investigación tiene como objetivo analizar la experiencia con respecto a la lactancia materna de las madres encarceladas en las prisiones del sistema penitenciario español, así como estudiar si han percibido prácticas que aludan a la violencia obstetricia durante la gestación, el parto y el puerperio. Se realizó un estudio exploratorio-descriptivo con abordaje cualitativo y método etnográfico crítico. Entre diciembre de 2021 y abril de 2022, se efectuó el trabajo de campo con observación participante y entrevistas semiestructuradas a 30 de las mujeres mayores de edad procedentes de África, Europa, Europa del Este y Latinoamérica, que se encontraban cumpliendo condena junto a sus criaturas en las Unidades de Madres de las ciudades españolas de Alicante, Barcelona, Madrid y Sevilla. Las principales conclusiones señalan la necesidad de aplicar políticas penitenciarias con perspectiva de género y feminista, que consigan erradicar las graves desigualdades y discriminaciones que sufren las mujeres encarceladas y que sirvan para proteger los derechos básicos de madres y criaturas.

Obstetric Violence in Italy: From Theoretical Premises to Court Judgments.

Introduction: Historical mistreatment and violence directed toward women's bodies extend to the field of medicine, and obstetric and gynecological practices are not immune to such misconduct. Obstetric violence (OV) refers to actions involving disrespectful, abusive, or coercive treatment directed at pregnant and birthing women. This includes institutional and personal attitudes that lead to the violation of women's autonomy, human rights, and sexual and reproductive health. Despite various international legislative initiatives and recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO) addressing disrespectful and abusive treatment, OV is still poorly known to Italian public opinion. This study aims to investigate whether the concept of OV has been conversely assimilated in judicial decisions. Materials and methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted to scrutinize judgments in Italy until June 2023 related to OV. The Italian legal database 'De Jure Giuffrè', which collects sentences by various Courts, and the terms 'obstetric' and 'violence' as keywords were used for the research. Results: The full-text revision of the results (n. 41 sentences) al-lowed the selection of 5 eligible contributions covering the following issues: Informed Consent, Kristeller maneuver, Vaginal Birth After Cesarean (VBAC), Acceleration of childbirth without indication, and Episiotomy. The analysis of individual judgments was complemented by an examination of the key issues involved. Conclusions: The reviewed judgments frequently seemed to be grounded in technical aspects and inclined towards a predominant evaluation of childbirth outcomes. However, some encouraging aspects emerged, particularly in terms of attention to the female body, acknowledgment of consequences within the intimate-relational dimension, and a commitment to the principle of self-determination through the provision of free and informed consent. Ensuring the psychophysical well-being of women and unborn children, fostering positive interactions between pregnant women and medical staff, and actively working to reduce the grounds for litigation are among actual emerging priorities in healthcare. In this sense, fundamental elements include the implementation of continuous staff training and education as well as a focus on promoting the self-determination of women, leveraging new technologies for this purpose, and ensuring legal protection of their rights.

'My doctor just called me a good girl and I died a bit inside': From everyday misogyny to obstetric violence in UK fertility and maternity services.

This paper begins with the common phrase 'good girl' as a lens through which to explore the insidious nature of patronising and paternalistic language on women's agency in obstetric care. Here we see how misogynistic language is both violence against women in its own right, and serves to create a context in which more extreme obstetric violence can be precipitated. Based on thematic analysis of discussion on Mumsnet, and on contributions to a research-focused Facebook group, this paper illustrates the complexity of recognising and refuting misogyny as a female patient as well as the damage that can occur from a cultural context in which this language is normalised. Here, words both boast a materiality through the environments they reify, and become transient and slippery, with semiotic uncertainty.

Experienced disrespect & abuse during childbirth and associated birth characteristics: a cross-sectional survey in the Netherlands.

BACKGROUND: Experiencing upsetting disrespect and abuse (D&A) during labour and birth negatively affects women's birth experiences. Knowing in what circumstances of birth women experience upsetting situations of D&A can create general awareness and help healthcare providers judge the need for extra attention in their care to help reduce these experiences. However, little is known about how different birth characteristics relate to the experience of D&A. Previous studies showed differences in birth experiences and experienced D&A between primiparous and multiparous women. This study explores, stratified for parity, (1) how often D&A are experienced in the Netherlands and are considered upsetting, and (2) which birth characteristics are associated with these upsetting experiences of D&A. METHODS: For this cross-sectional study, an online questionnaire was set up and disseminated among women over 16 years of age who gave birth in the Netherlands between 2015 and 2020. D&A was divided into seven categories: emotional pressure, unfriendly behaviour/verbal abuse, use of force/physical violence, communication issues, lack of support, lack of consent and discrimination. Stratified for parity, univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to examine which birth characteristics were associated with the upsetting experiences of different categories of D&A. RESULTS: Of all 11,520 women included in this study, 45.1% of primiparous and 27.0% of multiparous women reported at least one upsetting experience of D&A. Lack of consent was reported most frequently, followed by communication issues. For both primiparous and multiparous women, especially transfer from midwife-led to obstetrician-led care, giving birth in a hospital, assisted vaginal birth, and unplanned cesarean section were important factors that increased the odds of experiencing upsetting situations of D&A. Among primiparous women, the use of medical pain relief was also associated with upsetting experiences of D&A. CONCLUSION: A significant number of women experience upsetting disrespectful and abusive care during birth, particularly when medical interventions are needed after the onset of labour, when care is transferred during birth, and when birth takes place in a hospital. This study emphasizes the need for improving quality of verbal and non-verbal communication, support and adequate decision-making and consent procedures, especially before, during, and after the situations of birth that are associated with D&A.

Obstetric violence is a misnomer.

The term "obstetric violence" has been used in the legislative language of several countries to protect mothers from abuse during pregnancy. Subsequently, it has been expanded to include a spectrum of obstetric procedures, such as induction of labor, episiotomy, and cesarean delivery, and has surfaced in the peer-reviewed literature. The term "obstetric violence" can be seen as quite strong and emotionally charged, which may lead to misunderstandings or misconceptions. It might be interpreted as implying a deliberate act of violence by healthcare providers when mistreatment can sometimes result from systemic issues, lack of training, or misunderstandings rather than intentional violence. "Obstetric mistreatment" is a more comprehensive term that can encompass a broader range of behaviors and actions. "Violence" generally refers to the intentional use of physical force to cause harm, injury, or damage to another person (eg, physical assault, domestic violence, street fights, or acts of terrorism), whereas "mistreatment" is a more general term and refers to the abuse, harm, or control exerted over another person (such as nonconsensual medical procedures, verbal abuse, disrespect, discrimination and stigmatization, or neglect, to name a few examples). There may be cases where unprofessional personnel may commit mistreatment and violence against pregnant patients, but as obstetrics is dedicated to the health and well-being of pregnant and fetal patients, mistreatment of obstetric patients should never be an intended component of professional obstetric care. It is necessary to move beyond the term "obstetric violence" in discourse and acknowledge and address the structural dimensions of abusive reproductive practices. Similarly, we do not use the term "psychiatric violence" for appropriately used professional procedures in psychiatry, such as electroshock therapy, or use the term "neurosurgical violence" when drilling a burr hole. There is an ongoing need to raise awareness about the potential mistreatment of obstetric patients within the context of abuse against women in general. Using the term "mistreatment in healthcare" instead of the more limited term "obstetric violence" is more appropriate and applies to all specialties when there is unprofessional abuse and mistreatment, such as biased care, neglect, emotional abuse (verbal), or physical abuse, including performing procedures that are unnecessary, unindicated, or without informed patient consent. Healthcare providers must promote unbiased, respectful, and patient-centered professional care; provide an ethical framework for all healthcare personnel; and work toward systemic change to prevent any mistreatment or abuse in our specialty.

The intersection of traumatic childbirth and obstetric racism: A qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Traumatic childbirth experiences are common in the United States - affecting a third to a fourth of mothers - with significant negative impacts on maternal health. Yet most research on traumatic childbirth focuses on white mothers' experiences. Drawing on a racially and ethnically diverse sample of mothers who experienced traumatic childbirth, this exploratory qualitative study examined Black, Latina, and Asian mothers' traumatic birth experiences and the role of obstetric racism in shaping these experiences. METHODS: In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted in 2019-2020 with 30 mothers who identified as women of color (37% Black, 40% Latina, and 23% Asian) who gave birth in the US and self-identified as having experienced a traumatic childbirth. Data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: Mothers reported obstetric racism as core to their traumatic birth experiences. This racism manifested through practitioners' use of gendered and racialized stereotypes, denying and delegitimizing mothers' needs. Mothers shared key consequences of the obstetric racism they experienced, including postpartum anxiety and depression, increased medical mistrust, and decreased desire for future children. CONCLUSIONS: Mothers' reports suggest that obstetric racism played a role in their traumatic birth experiences. Particularly, practitioners' deployment of gendered and racialized stereotypes influenced mothers' treatment during birth. These findings point to opportunities to address obstetric racism during childbirth and improve patients' experiences through enhancing their agency and empowerment. The findings, in addition, highlight the need for increased practitioner training in anti-racist practice and cultural humility.

L'expérience de l'accouchement en milieu surveillé dans la province d'Essaouira au Maroc: Quelle réalité?

RésuméUne expérience positive de l'accouchement (EPA) est fondamentale pour des soins maternels de qualité. Toutefois, de nombreuses femmes subissent des comportements non respectueux lors de ce moment crucial. Au Maroc, peu d'études ont mesuré cette expérience, et les éléments l'influençant demeurent insuffisamment documentés. Nous avons conduit une recherche mixte dans la province d'Essaouira entre avril et décembre 2021. Notre enquête, basée sur un questionnaire, a sollicité l'avis de 240 femmes issues de huit centres de santé choisis au hasard. Par ailleurs, des entretiens semi-directifs ont été conduits avec 20 femmes, 47 professionnels de santé et quatre responsables administratifs. Les données quantitatives ont été soumises à des analyses descriptives, bi- et multivariées, tandis que les entretiens ont été analysés selon une approche de contenu thématique. Les données révèlent que 59.2% des participantes ont eu une expérience défavorable lors de leur dernier accouchement. Parmi elles, la majorité a déploré des soins non consentis (86.7%), un manque de respect de leur intimité (45.4%) et des abus verbaux (25%). L'EPA était principalement associée à la qualité de l'environnement de l'accouchement, au soutien pour l'allaitement, à la propreté des installations, au type d'établissement (privé) et à l'absence de complications médicales pendant le travail. Les entretiens ont révélé que le manque de motivation des professionnels de santé, l'absence de formation continue appropriée et des lacunes organisationnelles et managériales ont affecté l'EPA. Notre étude souligne le besoin crucial de formation continue axée sur le respect des patients, l'éthique et la déontologie, et met en lumière l'importance d'une politique motivante pour les professionnels de santé, notamment dans le secteur public.

The Undercommons of Childbirth and Their Abolitionist Ethic of Care. A Study into Obstetric Violence Among Mothers, Midwives (in Training), and Doulas.

Engaging in dialogue with critical mothers, midwives, midwives in training, and doulas in the Netherlands, this study furthers the theoretical understanding of both obstetric violence and the activist resistance against it. Obstetric violence is understood as part of a process of relational separation, leaving the pregnant person isolated. The activist resistance against it is consequently theorized as the abolitionist building of an alternative "otherworld" of radical relational care. The themes established are: (1) "institutionalized separation" with the subtheme's "expropriation," "carcerality," and "obstetric violence;" and (2) "undercommoning childbirth" with subthemes "fugitive planning," "anarchic relationality," and "obstetric abolition."

Violência obstétrica no processo do abortamento

Objetivo: Analisar as práticas assistenciais de saúde no processo do abortamento tipificadas como violência obstétrica. Metodologia: Estudo qualitativo e descritivo, realizado em um hospital público no Brasil com 15 profissionais de saúde de nível médio e superior. Os dados foram coletados presencialmente, através de um roteiro de entrevista semiestruturada. O perfil foi analisado pela estatística descritiva simples e as questões abertas pela técnica de conteúdo temática proposta por Bardin. Resultados: Evidenciou-se que as práticas que denotam violência obstétrica relacionam-se a alocação das mulheres em processo de abortamento no mesmo ambiente que gestantes e puérperas e ao emitirem juízos de valor no momento da assistência às mulheres. Conclusão: Há necessidade de educação permanente para que as/os profissionais possam assistir de maneira humanizada e qualificada.

Objetivo: Analizar las prácticas de atención a la salud en el proceso de aborto tipificadas como violencia obstétrica. Metodología: Estudio cualitativo y descriptivo, realizado en un hospital público en Brasil con 15 profesionales de salud de nivel medio y superior. Los datos fueron recogidos presencialmente, a través de un guion de entrevista semiestructurada. El perfil fue analizado por la estadística descriptiva simple y las cuestiones abiertas por la técnica de contenido temática propuesta por Bardin. Resultados: Se evidenció que los profesionales de salud presentaron conocimiento insuficiente sobre violencia obstétrica en el momento en que la restringieron al parto o aborto, a la tipificación física/verbal e identificaron solo a los médicos y enfermeras como los principales perpetradores. Las prácticas que denotan violencia obstétrica se relacionan a la asignación de las mujeres en proceso de aborto en el mismo ambiente que gestantes y puérperas, y al emitir juicios de valor en el momento de la asistencia. Conclusión: Hay necesidad de educación permanente para que los profesionales puedan asistir de manera humanizada y cualificada.

Objective: To analyze health care practices in the abortion process typified as obstetric violence. Methodology: Qualitative and descriptive study, conducted in a public hospital in Brazil with 15 health professionals of medium and higher education. The data were collected in person, through a semi-structured interview script. The profile was analyzed by simple descriptive statistics and the questions opened by the thematic content technique proposed by Bardin. Results: It was evidenced that health professionals had insufficient knowledge about obstetric violence at the time they restricted it to childbirth or abortion, physical/verbal typing and identified only doctors and nurses as the main perpetrators. The practices that denote obstetric violence are related to the allocation of women in the process of abortion in the same environment as pregnant women and puerperal women and when issuing value judgments at the time of care. Conclusion: There is a need for permanent education so that the professionals can assist in a humanized and qualified way.

[Ableist obstetric violence against women with disabilities: An integrative literature review]. / Violencia obstétrica capacitista hacia mujeres con discapacidad: Una revisión integradora de la literatura.

Women with disabilities face increased precarity throughout their lives, with one of the most affected areas being their sexual and reproductive health. The aim of this study was to identify and analyze the scientific literature on obstetric violence against women with disabilities. The search was conducted from August to October 2022 in five databases: PubMed, Web of Science, Dialnet, SciELO, and Scopus. A total of 194 articles were retrieved, and after applying selection criteria, ten articles were analyzed. Through thematic analysis, the dimension "ableist obstetric violence towards women with disabilities" emerged. Findings suggest that women with disabilities are marginalized during obstetric care, resulting in untimely attention and cascading interventions. At present, there is scarce literature addressing this phenomenon from a rights-based perspective. Urgent measures are needed to train healthcare teams on the provision of care to people with disabilities. Additionally, it is crucial to critically examine the relationship between healthcare personnel and institutions to women with disabilities within the framework of their sexual and reproductive rights.

Las mujeres con discapacidad se ven enfrentadas a una mayor precariedad a lo largo de sus vidas. Una de las áreas más afectadas es su salud sexual y reproductiva. El objetivo de este estudio fue identificar y analizar la literatura sobre violencia obstétrica en mujeres con discapacidad. La búsqueda se realizó durante los meses de agosto a octubre de 2022 en cinco bases de datos: PubMed; Web of Science; Dialnet; SciELO y Scopus. Se recuperaron 194 artículos y luego de aplicar los criterios de selección se analizaron diez artículos. Del análisis temático, emergió la dimensión: "violencia obstétrica capacitista hacia mujeres con discapacidad". Los hallazgos sugieren que las mujeres con discapacidad son invisibilizadas durante la atención obstétrica, lo que genera un cuidado inoportuno e intervenciones en cascada. Existe escasa literatura que aborde el fenómeno desde una perspectiva de derechos. Es urgente contar con equipos de salud aptos para atender a personas con discapacidad, así como también, problematizar el vínculo entre el personal e instituciones de salud y las mujeres con discapacidad en el marco de sus derechos sexuales y reproductivos.

Restorative justice in a case of traumatic birth following an unperceived pregnancy.

PURPOSE: Pregnancy can be denied or better "unperceived" by women in up to 1:300 pregnancies and poses the mother and her unborn at high risk when an unassisted birth follows. The importance of recognizing unperceived pregnancy and the risk of unassisted births for both mothers and their babies are described. METHODS: Description of a case of unperceived pregnancy and traumatic unassisted birth. RESULTS: A pregnant woman was not diagnosed in a clinic despite being at the verge of giving birth. She was turned away, was on her way to another hospital, and gave birth in a toilet in a dissociative state. The baby survived, but the mother was declared guilty of attempted manslaughter and received a 6-year prison sentence. The expertise of a perinatal psychiatrist reversed the verdict and the court apologized to the mother, now living with her son. CONCLUSIONS: This case shows the severe consequences when pregnancy and labor are not recognized by health professionals. The reversal of the original sentence is considered a pioneer case of restorative justice in the context of unperceived pregnancy and obstetric violence. Health providers and courts need to be informed by perinatal mental health professionals about the impact of unperceived pregnancy and obstetric violence.

Representações sociais de mulheres no ciclo gravídico-puerperal sobre violência obstétrica

Objetivos: Traçar as características biopsicossociais das mulheres no ciclo grávido-puerperal e analisar as representações sociais dessas mulheres sobre a violência obstétrica. Metodologia: Estudo descritivo, de abordagem qualitativa, norteado pela Teoria das Representações Sociais, realizado no período de setembro de 2021 a abril de 2022, com 40 mulheres atendidas em uma maternidade de Minas Gerais, no Brasil. Os dados foram coletados por meio de um roteiro de entrevista semiestruturada e da técnica de associação livre de palavras. A caracterização foi analisada pela estatística descritiva simples, a entrevista semiestruturada pela técnica de conteúdo temática proposta por Bardin e a técnica de associação livre de palavras pelo software Iramuteq. Resultados: 82,5 % das participantes possuíam faixa de 18 e 29 anos, 77,5 % intitularam-se pardas, 25 % tinham ensino médio completo e 65 % referiram renda de 1 a 3 salários-mínimos. Quanto à história obstétrica, 52 % possuíam idade gestacional entre 37 e 41 semanas, 70 % não haviam planejado a gravidez, 42,5 % haviam sido admitidas em trabalho de parto e 87,5 % estavam acompanhadas. A violência obstétrica é representada pelas mulheres de maneira superficial com enfoque na dimensão física e emocional, sendo em alguns momentos naturalizada. Conclusão: A violência obstétrica é uma grave problemática vivenciada pelo público feminino e a falta de conhecimento pode levar à naturalização, deixando-as em posição de ampla vulnerabilidade.

Objetivos: Trazar las características biopsicosociales de mujeres en el ciclo gravídico-puerperal y analizar las representaciones sociales de estas mujeres sobre violencia obstétrica Metodología: Estudio descriptivo, de abordaje cualitativo, guiado por la teoría de las representaciones sociales, realizado en el período de septiembre de 2021 a abril de 2022, con 40 mujeres atendidas en una maternidad de Minas Gerais, en Brasil. Los datos fueron recogidos a través de un guion de entrevista semiestructurada y de la técnica de asociación libre de palabras. La caracterización fue analizada por la estadística descriptiva simple, la entrevista semiestructurada por la técnica de contenido temático propuesta por Bardin, y la técnica de asociación libre de palabras por el software Iramuteq. Resultados: 82.5 % de las participantes poseían rango de 18 y 29 años, 77.5 % se identificaron como pardas, 25 % poseían enseñanza media completa y 65 % refirieron renta de 1 a 3 salarios mínimos. En cuanto a la historia obstétrica, 52 % poseían edad gestacional entre 37 y 41 semanas, 70 % no habían planeado el embarazo, 42.5 % habían sido admitidas en trabajo de parto y 87.5 % estaban acompañadas. La violencia obstétrica es representada por las mujeres de manera superficial, con enfoque en la dimensión física y emocional, a veces naturalizada. Conclusión: La violencia obstétrica es una grave problemática vivida por el público femenino y la falta de conocimiento puede llevar a la naturalización, dejándolas en posición de amplia vulnerabilidad

Objectives: To trace the biopsychosocial characteristics of women in the pregnancy-puerperal cycle and to analyze the social representations of these women on obstetric violence. Methodology: Descriptive study, qualitative approach, guided by the Theory of Social Representations conducted in the period from September 2021 to April 2022, with 40 women assisted in a maternity hospital in Minas Gerais, Brazil. The data was collected through a script of semi-structured interview and the technique of free association of words. The characterization was analyzed by simple descriptive statistics, the semi-structured interview by the thematic content technique proposed by Bardin and the free word association technique by Iramuteq software. Results: 82.5 % of the participants had a range of 18 and 29 years, 77.5% self-identified as pardas (mixed race), 25 % had completed high school and 65 % reported income from 1 to 3 minimum wages. Regarding obstetric history, 52,0% had gestational age between 37 and 41 weeks, 70.0% had not planned pregnancy, 42.5% had been admitted for labor and 87.5% were monitored. Obstetric violence is represented by women in a superficial way with a focus on the physical and emotional dimension, being in some moments naturalized. Conclusion: Obstetric violence is a serious problem experienced by the female public and the lack of knowledge can lead to naturalization, leaving them in a position of broad vulnerability

Unveiling the intersection: exploring obstetric violence in the Era of COVID-19 in Ecuador.

INTRODUCTION: Changes to healthcare delivery organization that have occurred to protect people from the virus COVID-19 may have led to harmful consequences to pregnant women intensifying obstetric violence. Prevalence of obstetric violence in Ecuador is high with a range between 30 and 70% approximately. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was performed with the participation of 1298 women who answered EPREVO questionnaire from June 2021 to January 2022. Obstetrics characteristics' relationship before and during COVID-19 were examined using Fisher exact test. RESULTS: From 1598 respondents, 1284 (80.4%) gave birth before March 2020 Most of the participants (73.6%; CI:73.59-73.61) experienced obstetric violence during childbirth. Vaginal examination, enemas and genital shaving, episiotomy and cesarean section decreased significantly as well as rooming with the baby during the pandemic. Half of the women did not breastfeed the baby in the first hour but there were not statistically significant differences between giving birth before or during the infection from COVID-19. CONCLUSIONS: Levels of obstetric violence in Ecuador remains high but without major differences due to the COVID-19 pandemic, however some harmful medical practices considered as obstetric violence decreased but maybe to the fear to be infected by the virus.

Factors Associated with Obstetric Violence Implicated in the Development of Postpartum Depression and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: A Systematic Review.

Postpartum depression (PPD) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) continue to be prevalent, and disabling women with mental disorders and obstetric violence (OV) may be a trigger for them, particularly during maternity. We aimed to analyze the association between manifestations of OV with the development of PPD and PTSD during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum. This systematic review was based on the PRISMA 2020 statement and explored original articles published between 2012 and 2022. A total of 21 articles were included in the analysis, and bias was assessed by the Effective Public Health Practice Project's Quality Assessment Tool. The highest rate of PPD symptoms appeared in women under 20 years old, multiparous, and with low education levels. The higher PTSD ratio was present in women under 35 years, primiparous, and with secondary studies. The mode of labor (instrumental or C-section) was identified as a major risk factor of PPD, being mediator variables of the informal coercion of health professionals and dissatisfaction with newborn healthcare. Instead, partner support during labor and high satisfaction with healthcare during birth were protective factors. Regarding PTSD, the mode of labor, several perineal tears, and the Kristeller technique were risk factors, and loss of autonomy and coercion modulated PTSD symptomatology. The protective factors for PTSD were respect for the labor plan, adequate communication with health professionals, social support during labor, and the skin-to-skin procedure. This systematic review provides evidence that OV contributes to PPD and PTSD, being important in developing standardized tools to prevent it. This study recommends changes in maternal healthcare policies, such as individualized healthcare assistance, humanized pregnancy protocols, and women's mental health follow-up, and improvements in the methodological quality of future research.

[Obstetric violence as epistemic injustice: childbirth trouble.] / La violencia obstétrica como injusticia epistémica: el parto en disputa.

This article theoretically frames the issue of obstetric violence as epistemic injustice, drawing heavily from feminist phenomenological philosophy, within the general framework of narrative bioethics and the fight for sexual-reproductive rights. The first section deals with the concept of obstetric violence, emphasizing Latin America's pioneering role in its coinage and recognition, as well as its empirical-hermeneutical applications. In the second section, consideration is given to how the concept of obstetric violence has been analyzed through the lens of epistemic injustice (in its two versions: testimonial and hermeneutic), which has signified major progress in its systemic understanding and its biopolitical nature. The article's conclusions highlight the full empirical-theoretical relevance of the term, as a thick philosophical concept, despite existing tensions between the biosanitary (especially medical) sector and citizen demands.

Este artículo aborda en términos teóricos la cuestión de la violencia obstétrica como injusticia epistémica, con especial énfasis en las perspectivas que propone la filosofía fenomenológica feminista, desde el encuadre general de la bioética narrativa y la lucha por los derechos sexo-reproductivos. En la primera parte, se aborda el concepto de violencia obstétrica, enfatizando el carácter pionero de América Latina en su acuñe y reconocimiento, así como en su aplicación empírico-hermenéutica. En la segunda parte, se examina cómo el concepto de violencia obstétrica ha sido analizado a través del prisma de la injusticia epistémica (en sus dos versiones: testimonial y hermenéutica), lo que ha supuesto un avance significativo en su comprensión sistémica y en su carácter biopolítico. El artículo concluye sobre la plena pertinencia empírico-teórica del término, en tanto concepto filosófico denso, pese a la controversia existente entre la clase biosanitaria (especialmente médica) y la reclamación ciudadana.

Meaning of having to cope with voluntary termination of late pregnancy in women undergoing the procedure in healthcare institutions of two Colombian cities / Significado de afrontar una interrupción voluntaria del embarazo tardía en mujeres que se realizaron el procedimiento en instituciones de salud de dos ciudades colombianas

Objectives: As part of sexual and reproductive health, abortion is a woman's right in Colombia. However, not all the members of Colombian society recognize this right. The aim of this work is to understand the transformation of meanings after having to cope with voluntary termination of late pregnancy in women living in Colombia, as well as their interaction with family and friends and the health system. Material and methods: Hermeneutic research undertaken within a constructivist paradigm and analyzed from a feminist perspective using grounded theory techniques: coding, categorization and constant comparison. Nineteen semi-structured interviews were conducted among 18 women living in Colombia who underwent voluntary termination of late pregnancy defined as more than 20 weeks of gestation, accompanied by feticide and labor induction, in two Colombian cities between 2016 and 2020. Besides, two focus groups were conducted, one with some of the interviewees and another with feminist experts in order to cross-reference the information derived from the research process and delve deeper into the findings. Results: Women attached a negative and opposite meaning to voluntary termination of pregnancy, but once they found themselves in a situation that forced them to put an end to gestation, they transgressed their own meanings and those of society to find justifications to help them uphold their decision. This confrontation brought them to a place of profound and intimate reflection and led them to transform their lives. Conclusions: Meanings regarding abortion in women who undergo late pregnancy termination are usually contrary to this right in sexual and reproductive health. After the event, these meanings become transformed through a process of conscious reflection as women come face-to-face with their own meanings and those of society.

Objetivos: el aborto es un derecho en salud sexual y reproductiva de la mujer en Colombia, sin embargo no toda la sociedad colombiana reconoce este derecho. Este trabajo busca comprender la transformación de los significados después de haber afrontado una interrupción voluntaria del embarazo tardía, en mujeres residentes en Colombia, y su interacción con familiares, amigos y sistema de salud. Materiales y métodos: investigación hermenéutica desde un paradigma constructivista, el análisis se hizo desde una perspectiva feminista con técnicas de la teoría fundamentada: codificación, categorización y comparación constante. Se realizaron 19 entrevistas semiestructuradas a 18 mujeres residentes en Colombia que se sometieron a interrupción voluntaria del embarazo tardía definida por ser una gestación mayor a 20 semanas, acompañada de feticidio e inducción de parto, en dos ciudades colombianas, entre 2016 y 2020. Además, se realizaron dos grupos focales, uno con algunas de las entrevistadas, y otro con feministas expertas para triangular la información emergente del proceso investigativo y profundizar los hallazgos. Resultados: las mujeres tenían un significado negativo y contrario sobre la interrupción voluntaria del embarazo, pero cuando se encuentran inmersas en una situación que las obliga a terminar con la gestación, contravienen los significados propios y los de su sociedad y buscan justificaciones que les ayuden a mantener la decisión. Esta confrontación las hace reflexionar profunda e íntimamente y las lleva a transformar sus vidas. Conclusiones: los significados sobre el aborto, en las mujeres que se realizan interrupción voluntaria del embarazo tardía, generalmente son contrarios a este derecho en salud sexual y reproductiva. Posterior al evento estos significados se transforman por medio de la reflexión consciente de las mujeres al tener que enfrentar sus propios significados y los de la sociedad.

Intrapartum ultrasound and mother acceptance: A study with informed consent and questionnaire.

Introduction: Intrapartum ultrasound (IU) is used in the delivery ward; even if IU monitors the labouring women, it could be perceived as a discomfort and even as an" obstetric violence", because it is a young technique, not often well "accepted". A group of clinicians aimed at obtain an informed consent from patients, prior to perform a translabial ultrasound (TU). The aim of this study was to evaluate the acceptance of both translabial and transabdominal IU. Methods: In this study, performed at the University Hospital of Bari (Unit of Obstetrics and Gynecology), were enrolled 103 patients in the first or second stage of labor in singleton cephalic presentation. A statistical frequency and an association analysis were performed. As a significant result, we consider the peace of mind/satisfaction and the" obstetric violence". IU was performed both transabdominal and translabial to determine the presentation, head positions, angle of progression and head perineum distance. During the first and second stage of labor, the ASIUG questionnaires (Apulia study intrapartum ultrasonography group) were administered. Results: 74 (71, 84%) patients underwent IU and 29 had a vaginal examination (28, 15%). Significant less "violence" has been experienced with a IU (73 out 74/98, 65%) and only one person (1 /1, 35%) recorded that. On the contrary, 10 patients (10/29) perceived that "violence" (34, 48%) while 19 (65, 52%) did not respond on a similar way, after a vaginal examination (VE). More patients felt satisfaction (71 out 74/95, 95%) with the use of IU and only 3 (3/4, 05%) felt unease. A different picture was evident in the vaginal examination group. Only 17 patients (17 out 29/58, 62%) felt comfort while 12 (41, 38%) felt unease. Conclusions: In our study, IU use is well accepted by most of patients, because it could reassure women about their fetal condition. Moreover, they can see the fetus on the screen, while the obstetrician is performing the US and this is important for a visual feedback, in comparison with the classical VE.