Obstetric Violence in Developing Health Systems: An Evolving Problem Requiring Novel Intervention

Abstract

While the term obstetric violence has a variable definition given its immensely personal and internally compassionate nature; many accept it to mean: harm inflicted during or in relation to pregnancy, childbearing, and the post-partum period often on the part of a healthcare provider. Obstetric violence, an enigmatic and labyrinthine concern, predominantly and disproportionality affects those experiencing pregnancy in nations with developing healthcare frameworks. The specific comparison that this article will explore is Canada versus Brazil. Due to sociopolitical factors that are beyond the scope of this article, Canada is often seen as a strong representation of developed healthcare whereas Brazil is often placed within the context of developing or underserved as it pertains to healthcare access and development. This is further reinforced by statistical rankings which in 2020 placed Canada as the 15th most developed healthcare system and Brazil ranked at 70.