Abstract
BackgroundViolation of mothers' rights during childbirth is a global problem that often silently torments women in many parts of the world. The aim of this study was to explore negative health consequences due to childbirth violence based on mothers' perceptions and experiences.MethodsTo achieve rich data, an exploratory qualitative study was carried out in 2019 on 26 women with childbirth violence experience who had given birth in hospitals of Ilam, Iran. Data were collected using semi‑structure in‑depth interviews (IDIs) and a purposive sampling. Participants were asked about their experiences and perceptions of negative health consequences due to childbirth violence. Data were analyzed by conventional content analysis based on Graneheim and Lundman approach. MAXQDA (v.18) software was used for better data management.ResultsFinal codes were classified into 9 sub-categories and 3 main categories including maternal and newborn injuries, weakening of family ties, sense of distrust and hatred. These findings emerged the theme: negative health consequences.ConclusionsThis study broke the silence of abused mothers during childbirth and expressed the perspective of mothers who suffered childbirth violence as a routine phenomenon in maternal care, and a serious threat to the health of mothers, newborns and families. Findings of this study can be a warning for maternity health system, monitoring and support structures as well as health policy-makers to seriously plan to prevent and eliminate this problem.
Highlights
Violation of mothers’ rights during childbirth is a global problem that often silently torments women in many parts of the world
Studies report that 20%, 20%–28%, 78%, and 98% of women in Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Nigeria experience childbirth violence [15, 24,25,26]
Since a qualitative study explores what lies behind women’s experiences of violence [44] and given that few global qualitative studies have assessed the various dimensions of the consequences of childbirth violence, this paper aimed to explore the negative health consequences of childbirth violence based on the experiences of women
Summary
Violation of mothers’ rights during childbirth is a global problem that often silently torments women in many parts of the world. The aim of this study was to explore negative health consequences due to childbirth violence based on mothers’ perceptions and experiences. Childbirth violence is an obvious violation of women’s fundamental rights and their independence. Women’s experiences of mistreatment during facility-based delivery can be expressed as physical, verbal abuse, sexual abuse, stigma, discrimination, failure to meet standards of care and attention – such as neglect and abandonment, lack of informed consent and confidentiality, privacy, and confidentiality violation, medical procedures conducted without consent– the poor rapport between woman and healthcare providers and the conditions and constraints of health systems [11]. A new WHOled and multi-country study has demonstrated that more than one-third of women experienced mistreatment during childbirth in health facilities [27]
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