Obstetric violence in medical and nursing training

Abstract

Obstetric violence originates from a historical, social and cultural construction about the body and the questions that permeate the female gender, which is a multifactorial process that is expressed in different ways in health care environments. As it is a complex process, its resolution is just as complex. In health training, technical knowledge is often valued, so students have little approach to themes such as obstetric violence. Aiming to understand how the theme of obstetric violence is discussed in both medical and nursing training courses in a higher education institution. Data were based on two sources: documentary research with institutional documents and narrative interviews. Students from the medical and nursing courses were selected by lottery considering the inclusion and exclusion criteria and then using snowball sampling. The data were analyzed according to Minayo’s Content Analysis. Emerged the theme: Approach to Obstetric Violence in Training. It was possible to understand that the institution approaches the theme in a superficial way with little significance during graduation, and this fragility, leads to a student who does not know how to react to these situations. Considering the social responsibility of the higher education institution, the students highlight the need for more reflections covering integral care. Thus, the importance of investments in the training process of future professionals is emphasized. As a limitation, it is evident the non-participation of male students, the low participation of sixth grade medical students, and the fact that this was a single institution. For further investigation of the theme, new research should be carried out with a wider scope.