Home
Issues
Aim & Scope
Open Access
Editorial Board
Indexing
Supporting Midwifery Associations
Contact us
Manuscript Types
Manuscript Formatting
How to submit
Special publications and Reprints
Authorship & COI
Principles of Transparency Checklist
Publication Ethics and Publication Malpractice Statement
CONFERENCE PROCEEDING
Experiences of disrespect and abuse at childbirth: A mixed-method study across 22 European countries
1
ICRH-Universiteit Gent, Public Health and Primary Care, Gent, Belgium
2
WHO Collaborating Centre for Maternal and Child Health- Institute for Maternal and Child Health, IRCCS Burlo Garofolo, Trieste, Italy
Eur J Midwifery 2026;10(Supplement 1):A249
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Despite advancements in the quality of maternity care worldwide, mistreatment of women during childbirth persists. Currently, there is a gap in knowledge on the occurrence of disrespect and abuse during childbirth in the WHO European Region.
OBJECTIVES:
This study explored the occurrence of disrespect and abuse during childbirth in health facilities in the European Region.
METHODS:
Within the IMAgiNE EURO study, women aged 18 years and older who gave birth in healthcare facilities in the WHO European Region, were invited to complete an online validated questionnaire regarding the quality of maternity care. Data was collected between March 2020 and May 2023, covering the COVID-19 pandemic. A mixed-method analysis was conducted, including descriptive statistics for the quantitative data and thematic analysis for the qualitative data
RESULTS:
Among 50617 participating women across 22 countries, 7683 (15.2%) reported experiences of abuse, ranging from 6.4% in Israel to 30.7% in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Emotional, verbal and physical abuse were reported by 10.3%, 7.3% and 2.4% respectively. Thematic analysis, including responses of 737 women, identified several shortcomings in care that women perceived as abusive and their experiences associated with the abuse. Experiences of abuse were often linked to a sequence of actions, resulting in women feeling violated or treated as object
CONCLUSIONS:
Disrespect and abuse during maternity care is common in the WHO European Region and often has systemic roots. Efforts are needed to improve communication and adherence to evidence-based practices across the full spectrum of maternity care services, ranging from standard facility procedures to breastfeeding support. A cultural paradigm shift must happen within health systems, ensuring safe and respectful maternity care for all women.
KEY MESSAGE:
Disrespect and abuse during childbirth is common and policies to promote high quality care and protect maternal rights are either weak or inconsistently implemented. Ensuring respectful maternity care should become a political priority. Newborn 1
Despite advancements in the quality of maternity care worldwide, mistreatment of women during childbirth persists. Currently, there is a gap in knowledge on the occurrence of disrespect and abuse during childbirth in the WHO European Region.
OBJECTIVES:
This study explored the occurrence of disrespect and abuse during childbirth in health facilities in the European Region.
METHODS:
Within the IMAgiNE EURO study, women aged 18 years and older who gave birth in healthcare facilities in the WHO European Region, were invited to complete an online validated questionnaire regarding the quality of maternity care. Data was collected between March 2020 and May 2023, covering the COVID-19 pandemic. A mixed-method analysis was conducted, including descriptive statistics for the quantitative data and thematic analysis for the qualitative data
RESULTS:
Among 50617 participating women across 22 countries, 7683 (15.2%) reported experiences of abuse, ranging from 6.4% in Israel to 30.7% in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Emotional, verbal and physical abuse were reported by 10.3%, 7.3% and 2.4% respectively. Thematic analysis, including responses of 737 women, identified several shortcomings in care that women perceived as abusive and their experiences associated with the abuse. Experiences of abuse were often linked to a sequence of actions, resulting in women feeling violated or treated as object
CONCLUSIONS:
Disrespect and abuse during maternity care is common in the WHO European Region and often has systemic roots. Efforts are needed to improve communication and adherence to evidence-based practices across the full spectrum of maternity care services, ranging from standard facility procedures to breastfeeding support. A cultural paradigm shift must happen within health systems, ensuring safe and respectful maternity care for all women.
KEY MESSAGE:
Disrespect and abuse during childbirth is common and policies to promote high quality care and protect maternal rights are either weak or inconsistently implemented. Ensuring respectful maternity care should become a political priority. Newborn 1
| eISSN: | 2585-2906 |
We process personal data collected when visiting the website. The function of obtaining information about users and their behavior is carried out by voluntarily entered information in forms and saving cookies in end devices. Data, including cookies, are used to provide services, improve the user experience and to analyze the traffic in accordance with the Privacy policy. Data are also collected and processed by Google Analytics tool (more).
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
