Obstetric Violence from a Midwife Perspective

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Medical Ethics
• Healthcare Professional Studies

Background:

• Obstetric violence (OV) is a growing concern in maternal healthcare.
• Understanding healthcare providers' perceptions is crucial for addressing OV.
• Midwives' perspectives are vital due to their direct role in childbirth.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of perceived obstetric violence (OV) among midwives.
• To assess midwives' knowledge and understanding of OV.
• To identify professional factors associated with the perception of OV.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study was conducted with 325 midwives in Spain in 2021.
• Data collected on midwives' knowledge, perception, and observation of OV.
• Statistical analysis used to identify associations between professional factors and OV perception.

Main Results:

• 92.6% of midwives knew the term OV, but 74.8% did not equate it with malpractice.
• 56.9% rarely observed OV, while 26.5% observed it regularly.
• Physical aggression was most recognized as OV; lack of information was considered unacceptable treatment.
• Instrumental birth or unjustified cesarean section was deemed the gravest OV.
• Less experience, female gender, home birth attendance, and OV training correlated with higher OV perception (p < 0.005).

Conclusions:

• Midwives possess awareness of OV but have a limited scope, often excluding non-physical aspects like lack of information.
• Specific clinical practices and professional characteristics influence OV perception.
• Raising awareness and comprehensive training are essential to combat OV effectively.