Obstetric violence: An approach to the concept and a discussion regarding the terminology

Abstract

Introduction

There is concern related to the mistreatment, lack of respect or violence that health institutions exert on women in childbirth care. There is no unanimity on the proper terminology to name it. This work aims to explore the meaning of the different terms used to define this situation.

Methodology

Review of the scientific literature. The keywords were: «disrespect», «abuse»; «dehumanized care or obstetric violence», «childbirth» and «birth»; and in Spanish: «abuso», «maltrato», «violencia obstrétrica», «violencia institucional», and «parto humanizado» or «parto respetado».

Results and Discussion

Bohren et al state that «mistreatment» is a more inclusive term than «obstetric violence», «dehumanized care» and «disrespect and abuse», since it encompasses the experiences of women and health professionals. However, Jewkes and Penn-Kekana claim that the definitions of these concepts may be too broad to be operational. Lukasse et al. use the term «abuse» and understand that the concept encompasses «negligence, verbal, physical and sexual abuse». Sadler establishes a clear link between obstetric violence and gender violence and looks for its origins in the birth of obstetrics as a discipline.

Conclusions

The concept of «obstetric violence» is closely related to politics and power relations that seek obedience and submission of the female body while it also reveals that the experience of motherhood is part of the domain of biopolitics. For health professionals to accept the term, it is important to recognize that health practices are developed in a social environment in which a historical framework has been built with a set of internal beliefs, rules and practices that reproduce gender ideologies in health workers.