Obstetric violence during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in Spain: A descriptive study

The aim of this study was to describe women's perceptions of obstetric violence, medicalisation, and interventionism at childbirth in Spain during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

A cross-sectional design was used. For data collection, an online questionnaire with closed questions was designed and distributed via social media. Women who gave birth between March 2020 and April 2021 in Spain were recruited.

The sample consisted of 6060 questionnaires. Sixty-two percent of respondents thought that the measures taken were arbitrary and ineffective in curbing the pandemic. For the following variables, statistically significant differences were found between groups related to maternal SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis: feeling rejected for suspected positive SARS-CoV-2 status (p<0.001), being encouraged to breastfeed (p=0.048), offering bottles without consent (p<0.001), not being allowed to be accompanied (p<0.001), and separating the healthy baby from the mother at birth (p=0.009). Women who tested positive were also less satisfied with their care and felt less empowered. Thirty-three point five percent of women (n=2030) report having suffered obstetric violence. Of these, 67.8% (n=1376) believe that such obstetric violence is not justified by the pandemic.

Understanding these experiences during a pandemic provides an opportunity to develop specific protection policies for women in the event of future health crises.