Prevalence and risk factors of obstetric violence in the Gaza strip: A retrospective study from a conflict setting

Abstract

ObjectivesTo assess the prevalence and risk factors of obstetric violence (OV) among laboring women in the past 5 years in the Gaza Strip (GS).MethodsWomen who delivered between January 2017 and December 2021 were invited to complete an anonymous online survey between November 2021 and February 2022 to explore their experiences of labor.ResultsSeven hundred twenty‐two women completed the online questionnaire. Two‐thirds (484; 67.2%) were in their 20s, and half (362; 50.1%) were from low socioeconomic households. A vast majority (508; 70.4%) delivered in a government hospital. Four out of ten (300; 41.6%) reported experiencing at least one form of OV. Among these women, the types of OV reported were physical (143; 47.8%), psychological (122; 40.8%), verbal (109; 36.4%), and sexual (13; 4.4%). Delivery in private facilities (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 0.45, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.32–0.74) and prior knowledge of the care provider (AOR 0.37, 95% CI 0.23–0.59) were both independently protective for OV. In contrast, women's awareness of OV increased their likelihood of reporting it (AOR 3.45, 95% CI 2.37–5.01).ConclusionGS has an alarming prevalence of reported OV. Increasing awareness of OV, identifying its causes, and developing locally led initiatives to eliminate it are urgently needed.