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CONFERENCE PROCEEDING
Mistreatment and disrespectful care during labour and birth in Sweden
1
Karolinska Institutet, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Solna, Sweden
2
Uppsala University, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Uppsala, Sweden
3
Western Sydney University, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Sydney, Australia
Eur J Midwifery 2026;10(Supplement 1):A247
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Care provider interactions during childbirth may include mistreatment and disrespectful care, also referred to as obstetric violence. Most previous research on this topic was conducted in low- and middle-income countries, with prevalence and risk factors in the Nordic countries remaining unknown.
OBJECTIVES:
This study aims to investigate the prevalence and risk factors for mistreatment and disrespectful care in Sweden.
METHODS:
In the Swedish version of the Birth Experience Study, an international online survey, background and childbirth characteristics were collected, including validated instruments measuring mistreatment and disrespectful care (the Mistreatment Index [MIST] and the Measures of Respect Index [MORi]). The study sample encompasses 11,611 women who gave birth in Sweden from 2019 to 2024. Survey-weighted rates of mistreatment and disrespect were calculated, and survey-weighted logistic regression analyses were conducted to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95 % confidence intervals (CI) for associations between maternal characteristics and MIST and MORi.
RESULTS:
Among the 4557 primiparas in the sample, 38.1 % experienced any type of mistreatment, and 9.3 % experienced low respect during childbirth. Having immigrant parents was associated with mistreatment (OR 1.73, 95 % CI 1.11–2.69) and low respect (OR 4.46, 95 % CI 1.82–10.95), as were experiences of intimate partner or family violence (OR 2.37, 95 % CI 1.59–3.53; OR 3.14, 95 % CI 1.12–8.80). Analyses are ongoing, and further results will be presented at the conference.
CONCLUSIONS:
The findings indicate that experiences of mistreatment and disrespectful care are prevalent also in Sweden. During childbirth, women with immigrant parents and women with experiences of intimate partner or family violence are at higher risk of such experiences.
KEY MESSAGE:
This study provides novel data on an important topic for the midwifery community. The results may guide interventions to improve intrapartum care, thereby contributing to women’s mental health. Obstetric violence (including three-minute presentation competition)
Care provider interactions during childbirth may include mistreatment and disrespectful care, also referred to as obstetric violence. Most previous research on this topic was conducted in low- and middle-income countries, with prevalence and risk factors in the Nordic countries remaining unknown.
OBJECTIVES:
This study aims to investigate the prevalence and risk factors for mistreatment and disrespectful care in Sweden.
METHODS:
In the Swedish version of the Birth Experience Study, an international online survey, background and childbirth characteristics were collected, including validated instruments measuring mistreatment and disrespectful care (the Mistreatment Index [MIST] and the Measures of Respect Index [MORi]). The study sample encompasses 11,611 women who gave birth in Sweden from 2019 to 2024. Survey-weighted rates of mistreatment and disrespect were calculated, and survey-weighted logistic regression analyses were conducted to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95 % confidence intervals (CI) for associations between maternal characteristics and MIST and MORi.
RESULTS:
Among the 4557 primiparas in the sample, 38.1 % experienced any type of mistreatment, and 9.3 % experienced low respect during childbirth. Having immigrant parents was associated with mistreatment (OR 1.73, 95 % CI 1.11–2.69) and low respect (OR 4.46, 95 % CI 1.82–10.95), as were experiences of intimate partner or family violence (OR 2.37, 95 % CI 1.59–3.53; OR 3.14, 95 % CI 1.12–8.80). Analyses are ongoing, and further results will be presented at the conference.
CONCLUSIONS:
The findings indicate that experiences of mistreatment and disrespectful care are prevalent also in Sweden. During childbirth, women with immigrant parents and women with experiences of intimate partner or family violence are at higher risk of such experiences.
KEY MESSAGE:
This study provides novel data on an important topic for the midwifery community. The results may guide interventions to improve intrapartum care, thereby contributing to women’s mental health. Obstetric violence (including three-minute presentation competition)
| eISSN: | 2585-2906 |
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