Dear users, if you are aware of relevant global research that is not included in our database and relates to obstetric violence, we invite you to write to us. We accept open-source research from any country in the world. Your collaboration is essential to enrich our collection and support researchers worldwide. Likewise, if you find any errors, please do not hesitate to contact us. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.
Katrina S. Hacker, Margaux Geno Garzon, Saskia Shuman, Christina Shenko, and Lisa R. Rubin
The pelvic exam (PE) has long been a fundamental component of women’s preventive healthcare. Although considered routine, some women experience exam-related pain and psychological distress, which can lead to reduced engagement with healthcare services. This study conducted in-depth interviews with 12 cisgender women to explore their knowledge, perceptions, and experiences of PEs. Four key themes emerged: (1) experiences of objectification, (2) a cycle of uncertainty, (3) negotiation of agency, and (4) the potential for positive experiences. Further research is needed to examine the direct impact of PE experiences on reproductive health equity and to develop communication-based interventions and patient-centered best-practice guidelines.
Robbie Davis-Floyd, Kim Gutschow, and David A. Schwartz
How quickly, and in what ways, are U.S. maternity care practices changing due to the COVID-19 pandemic? Our data indicate that partners and doulas are being excluded from birthing rooms, leaving mothers unsupported, while providers face a lack of protective equipment and unclear guidelines. We investigate the rapidly shifting protocols for both in-hospital and out-of-hospital births and the decision-making processes behind them. We ask: Will COVID-19 cause women, families, and providers to view childbirth differently? And will this pandemic offer a testing ground for future policy changes to create effective maternity care during pandemics and other types of disasters?
Jeremy Applebaum MD
Given concerns about coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) transmission in healthcare settings and hospital policies restricting visitors for laboring patients, many pregnant women are increasingly considering planned home births. Several state legislatures are exploring ways to expand access to home births, including granting licensure and Medicaid coverage for certified professional midwife (CPM) services. This commentary examines key issues related to the expansion of CPM services, including safety, standardization of care, patient satisfaction, racial and income equity, and the strain on an already overburdened healthcare system. Lawmakers must carefully consider these factors when evaluating proposals to expand CPM practice and payment during a pandemic.
Saraswathi Vedam, Kathrin Stoll, Tanya Khemet Taiwo, Nicholas Rubashkin, Melissa Cheyney, Nan Strauss, Monica McLemore, Micaela Cadena, Elizabeth Nethery, Eleanor Rushton, Laura Schummers, Eugene Declercq, and the GVtM-US Steering Council
The Giving Voice to Mothers (GVtM)–US study examined mistreatment in maternity care through a WHO-based survey with 2,138 participants. 17.3% reported mistreatment, with hospital births (28.1%) having significantly higher rates than home births (5.1%). Women of color, those with low socioeconomic status, and those experiencing obstetric interventions or provider conflicts faced the highest mistreatment rates. Lower mistreatment was linked to vaginal births, midwifery care, community births, white race, multiparity, and maternal age over 30. This is the first study in the U.S. to use service user-developed indicators to assess mistreatment during childbirth. Our findings suggest that women of color, those giving birth in hospitals, and individuals facing social, economic, or health challenges experience higher rates of mistreatment. This mistreatment is further exacerbated by unexpected obstetric interventions and disagreements between patients and providers.
Monica R. McLemore, Molly R. Altman, Norlissa Cooper, Shanell Williams, Larry Rand, and Linda Franck
This study examines how healthcare experiences contribute to or alleviate stress during pregnancy for women of color with social and medical risk factors for preterm birth in Fresno, Oakland, and San Francisco, California. A secondary analysis of focus group data from 54 participants revealed five key themes: disrespect in healthcare encounters, racism and discrimination, stressful interactions with staff, unmet information needs, and inconsistent social support. Despite these challenges, women expressed confidence in parenting and newborn care. Their recommendations for healthcare improvements included better communication, respect for birth plans, increased patient listening, expanded social support programs, and reduced reliance on past carceral or child protective services history. These findings reinforce existing evidence that women of color experience discrimination, racism, and disrespect in maternity care, which they believe negatively impacts their health and their infants' well-being.
Dána-Ain Davis (2018). Obstetric Racism: The Racial Politics of Pregnancy, Labor, and Birthing. Medical Anthropology. DOI: 10.1080/01459740.2018.1549389
In this article, I analyze the birth stories of Black women in the United States, highlighting the various forms of racism they experience during medical encounters while pregnant, in labor, or during delivery. In the global women's health arena, these issues are often categorized as obstetric violence. However, the concept of obstetric racism—both as a lived experience and an analytical framework—more accurately captures the specific challenges Black women face in reproductive care during the pre- and postnatal periods. Obstetric racism poses a significant threat to positive birth outcomes. I argue that birth workers, including midwives and doulas, play a crucial role in mediating obstetric racism and addressing stratified reproductive outcomes.
Elizabeth Kukura
Maternity care in the United States faces a crisis marked by high cesarean rates, poor maternal health outcomes, and high costs. While grassroots movements have raised awareness of over-medicalization, less attention has been given to abuse, coercion, and disrespect during childbirth. Inspired by Latin American activism, U.S. advocates have begun using the term "obstetric violence" to describe such mistreatment, though research on the issue remains limited. This article examines how some women experience severe mistreatment by healthcare providers during childbirth, identifying behaviors that qualify as obstetric violence and illustrating how childbirth can be traumatic, even when the baby is healthy. It also explores the failure of legal and regulatory systems to prevent or address provider mistreatment. The article concludes by proposing legal and healthcare advocacy strategies to reform maternity care culture and improve legal protections for women harmed by obstetric violence.
This document provides an update to the report Deadly Delivery: The Maternal Health Care Crisis in the USA (Index: AMR 51/007/2010), which includes full citations and should be consulted for further information.
Amnesty International has documented positive developments in 2010 and early 2011, indicating that concerted efforts can lead to reductions in maternal mortality, improvements in maternal health and access to care, and the elimination of health disparities. However, significant work remains to ensure that all women have equal access to high-quality healthcare throughout their lives, including during pregnancy and childbirth. The recommendations and findings outlined in Deadly Delivery remain relevant, highlighting the ongoing need for legislative and policy changes to uphold women’s right to a safe and healthy pregnancy and birth in the United States.