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Published on: February 5, 2019
[Mistreatment during childbirth: A prospective multicentric survey among women in maternities in Burgundy]
1Service de gynécologie-obstétrique, CHU de Dijon Bourgogne, 14, rue Gaffarel, 21000 Dijon, France.
Objectives:
The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of mistreatment during childbirth (MDCB), to assess the subjective experience of women and to identify the factors associated with MDCB.
Methods:
This prospective multicentered study included every single public maternity of the Burgundy Perinatal Network from the 15th of February to the 15th of March 2019. An anonymous questionnaire was distributed on postpartum's second day. It encompassed the following categories of MDCB: verbal, physical abuse, information, consent, failure to meet professional standards of care (PSC), poor rapport between women and providers (PRBWP), and discrimination, as well as the subjective experience, physical and psychological.
Results:
Out of 1793 eligible women, 1149 answered (64.1%). Women reported a positive experience of childbirth, physical (89.8%) and psychological (93.4%). On the other hand, 506 women (44%) reported MDCB. The incidence of verbal (2.3%) or physical (0.4%) abuse or discrimination (3.5%) was marginal. MDCB reported was mainly a lack of research and/or respect of consent (21.5%), lack of satisfying information for at least one procedure (14.4%), declaration of lack of respect of PSC (24.2%), PRBWP (11.1%). When the subjective experience of childbirth was negative on the physical aspect, one MDCB was declared in 80% of cases (P<0.01).
Conclusions:
This study highlights the importance of involving women in care's decisions. We should systematize the information and seeking of consent in a dynamic way and promote free choice for women.
