Obstetric Violence as Reproductive Governance in the Dominican Republic

Castro, Arachu; Savage, V. Howard

doi:10.1080/01459740.2018.1512984

Cited by 49 publications

(40 citation statements)

References 27 publications

(27 reference statements)

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“…The use of abusive behaviours against women during childbirth in delivery facilities has been the subject of numerous studies, predominately in developing countries [9,10,11,12,13,14,15]. It has been shown to have negative impacts on the overall quality of care and trust in health providers and systems, and is associated with adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes [16].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Can Forum Play Contribute to Counteracting Abuse in Health Care? A Pilot Intervention Study in Sri Lanka

Swahnberg

Zbikowski

Wijewardene

et al. 2019

IJERPH

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Obstetric violence refers to the mistreatment of women in pregnancy and childbirth care by their health providers. It is linked to poor quality of care, lack of trust in health systems, and adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes. Evidence of interventions to reduce and prevent obstetric violence is limited. We developed a training intervention using a participatory theatre technique called Forum Play inspired by the Theatre of the Oppressed for health providers in Sri Lanka. This paper assesses the potential of the training method to increase staff awareness of obstetric violence and promote taking action to reduce or prevent it. We conducted four workshops with 20 physicians and 30 nurses working in three hospitals in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Participants completed a questionnaire before and three-to-four months after the intervention. At follow-up, participants more often reported that they had been involved in situations of obstetric violence, indicating new knowledge of the phenomenon and/or an increase in their ability to conceptualise it. The intervention appears promising for improving the abilities of health care providers to recognise obstetric violence, the first step in counteracting it. The study demonstrates the value of developing further studies to assess the longitudinal impacts of theatre-based training interventions to reduce obstetric violence and, ultimately, improve patient care.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Can Forum Play Contribute to Counteracting Abuse in Health Care? A Pilot Intervention Study in Sri Lanka

Swahnberg

Zbikowski

Wijewardene

et al. 2019

IJERPH

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“…Additionally, discriminatory behaviours against certain groups of women based on race, ethnicity, age, HIV status, financial status, and education levels also enhance the vulnerability to obstetric violence. (BOWSER;HILL, 2010, p. 21;CASTRO;SAVAGE, 2019, p. 7). Assumptions about a woman's prior behaviour and marital status also trigger discrimination in healthcare facilities.…”

Section: The Medicalization Of the Natural Process Of Childbirthmentioning

confidence: 96%

Obstetric Violence: A Women’s Human and Personality Rights Violation

Tach¹,

Toebes²,

Feriato³

2020

Rev. Jurídica

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Objective: The present article is aimed to analyse the phenomenon of obstetric violence as a type of violation of women’s human rights. A great incidence of physical, sexual and psychological offenses against women during pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium committed by healthcare workers has been documented worldwide. Labelled as ‘obstetric violence’, this offence has been understood as a specific type of human rights violation that hampers women's sexual and reproductive rights and is committed in both public and private healthcare facilities, as well as from poor health system conditions. Nevertheless, obstetric violence is still a poorly understood phenomenon. This article will analyse how obstetric violence has been defined, measured and understood by specialists, by focusing on its concept, formats, and consequences for victims, as well as on the contributing factors that influence its occurrence. Methodology: The applied methodology was the qualitative method through documentary studies, in which primary sources and English, Spanish and Portuguese-language research publications from different fields of study were used, including public health, public international law, and human rights. Results: The paper concludes by suggesting how the international human rights framework can be used to better address obstetric violence. The Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Inter-American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment and Eradication of Violence against Women are key treaties that establish for States Parties the obligation to pursue, by all appropriate means and without delay, a policy of eliminating discrimination and gender-based violence against women, including in the field of health. Contribution: The article has as contribution the exposure a little-known subject about obstetric violence as a type of violation of women's human rights. Keywords: Obstetric violence; abuse and mistreatment in healthcare facilities; women’s human rights violation; the medicalization of the natural process of childbirth. RESUMO Objetivo: O presente artigo tem como objetivo analisar o fenômeno da violência obstétrica como tipo de violação dos direitos humanos da mulher. Vários casos de ofensas físicas, sexuais e psicológicas contra mulheres durante a gravidez, o parto e o puerpério cometidos por profissionais de saúde tem sido documentada em todo o mundo. Intitulada 'violência obstétrica', essa ofensa é entendida como um tipo específico de violação de direitos humanos que prejudica os direitos sexuais e reprodutivos das mulheres e é cometida em unidades de saúde públicas e privadas, bem como devido à condições precárias no sistema de saúde. Contudo, a violência obstétrica ainda é um fenômeno pouco compreendido. Nesse sentido, este artigo analisará como a violência obstétrica é definida, mensurada e compreendida por especialistas, concentrando-se na definição adotadas, nas formas e consequências para as vítimas, bem como nos fatores contribuintes que influenciam a sua ocorrência.Metodologia: A metodologia foi o método qualitativo, através de estudos documentais, nos quais fontes primárias e artigos científicos em inglês, espanhol e português de diferentes áreas de estudo foram utilizados, incluindo saúde pública, direito internacional público e direitos humanos. Resultados: O artigo conclui sugerindo como a estrutura internacional de direitos humanos pode ser utilizada para combater a violência obstétrica. A Convenção sobre a Eliminação de Todas as Formas de Discriminação contra as Mulheres e a Convenção Interamericana para Prevenir, Punir e Erradicar a Violência contra as Mulheres são tratados fundamentais que estabelecem para os Estados Partes a obrigação de buscar, por todos os meios apropriados e sem demora, uma política de eliminação da discriminação e da violência de gênero contra as mulheres, inclusive no campo da saúde. Contribuições: O artigo tem como contribuição a exposição de um assunto pouco conhecido sobre a violência obstétrica como tipo de violação dos direitos humanos da mulher. Palavras-chave: Violência obstétrica; abuso e maus-tratos em estabelecimentos de saúde; violação de direitos humanos das mulheres; medicalização do parto. documented worldwide. Labelled as ‘obstetric violence’, this offence has been understood as a specific type of human rights violation that hampers women's sexual and reproductive rights and is committed in both public and private healthcare facilities, as well as from poor health system conditions. Nevertheless, obstetric violence is still a poorly understood phenomenon. This article will analyse how obstetric violence has been defined, measured and understood by specialists, by focusing on its concept, formats, and consequences for victims, as well as on the contributing factors that influence its occurrence. Methodology: The applied methodology was the qualitative method through documentary studies, in which primary sources and English, Spanish and Portuguese-language research publications from different fields of study were used, including public health, public international law, and human rights. Results: The paper concludes by suggesting how the international human rights framework can be used to better address obstetric violence. The Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Inter-American Convention on the Prevention, Punishment and Eradication of Violence against Women are key treaties that establish for States Parties the obligation to pursue, by all appropriate means and without delay, a policy of eliminating discrimination and gender-based violence against women, including in the field of health. Contribution: The article has as contribution the exposure a little-known subject about obstetric violence as a type of violation of women's human rights. Keywords: Obstetric violence; abuse and mistreatment in healthcare facilities; women’s human rights violation; the medicalization of the natural process of childbirth. RESUMO Objetivo: O presente artigo tem como objetivo analisar o fenômeno da violência obstétrica como tipo de violação dos direitos humanos da mulher. Vários casos de ofensas físicas, sexuais e psicológicas contra mulheres durante a gravidez, o parto e o puerpério cometidos por profissionais de saúde tem sido documentada em todo o mundo. Intitulada 'violência obstétrica', essa ofensa é entendida como um tipo específico de violação de direitos humanos que prejudica os direitos sexuais e reprodutivos das mulheres e é cometida em unidades de saúde públicas e privadas, bem como devido à condições precárias no sistema de saúde. Contudo, a violência obstétrica ainda é um fenômeno pouco compreendido. Nesse sentido, este artigo analisará como a violência obstétrica é definida, mensurada e compreendida por especialistas, concentrando-se na definição adotadas, nas formas e consequências para as vítimas, bem como nos fatores contribuintes que influenciam a sua ocorrência.

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“…HENA is conducting research aimed at identifying best practices in the care of pregnant women and challenges to dignified and respectful care; and analyzing the contribution of obstetric violence to inequity in maternal and neonatal health indicators in different population groups in the Americas ( Table 1 ). Verbal abuse, noncompliance with treatment protocols, poor rapport between women and health practitioners, and certain health system conditions and limitations frequently constitute types of obstetric violence ( 46 ). This is a critical but neglected issue that requires accurate knowledge of its frequency and impact ( 47 ).…”

Section: Hena’s Short and Medium Term Objectivesmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Health Equity Network of the Americas: inclusion, commitment, and action

Castro

Sáenz

Avellaneda³

et al. 2021

Revista Panamericana De Salud Pública

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The Health Equity Network of the Americas (HENA) is a multidisciplinary network that promotes knowledge sharing and intersectoral action for equity in health and human rights in the Americas. The objectives of HENA are: 1) to share successful experiences in the development of interventions, considering the social determinants and determination of health, to achieve participatory and community-based health responses; 2) to analyze the health, social, political, environmental and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic; 3) to identify the effects of pandemic care on populations most at risk because of their age and pre-existing health conditions; 4) examine the situation at borders and population movements in the spread of the pandemic and its effects on migrant populations; 5) propose strategies to ensure access to comprehensive care for pregnant women in order to reduce maternal and neonatal suffering, morbidity, and mortality; and 6) analyze violations of human rights and the right to health of historically marginalized populations, including street dwellers and other communities that depend on public spaces and the street for survival. The analytical and intervention models for health equity at HENA are based on various approaches, including social medicine, social epidemiology, medical anthropology, human ecology, and One Health.

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Obstetric Violence as Reproductive Governance in the Dominican Republic

Cited by 49 publications

References 27 publications

Can Forum Play Contribute to Counteracting Abuse in Health Care? A Pilot Intervention Study in Sri Lanka

Can Forum Play Contribute to Counteracting Abuse in Health Care? A Pilot Intervention Study in Sri Lanka

Obstetric Violence: A Women’s Human and Personality Rights Violation

The Health Equity Network of the Americas: inclusion, commitment, and action

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