HighlightsA newborn’s tragic death in Brazil spotlights obstetric violence, a global issue.Obstetric violence affects nearly half of births in developed countries, often going unreported.Experts stress the necessity of holding healthcare staff accountable for obstetric violence.Women from marginalized backgrounds face a higher risk of experiencing obstetric violence.AIMS calls obstetric violence a human rights issue requiring urgent attention from lawmakers.
To understand the broader implications of this and similar events,Bored Pandaspoke withNadia Higson, a representative from the UK-based Association for Improvements in Maternity Services (AIMS), andMonica Casper, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Seattle University and author of several papers on the topic.
RELATED:
Experts explained how Ribeiro’s tragic story is far from being unique, as obstetric violence is a prevalent issue that “often goes under-reported”
Image credits:George Dagerotip / Unsplash (Not the actual image)
When Ribeiro’s water broke, however, her family did not have the necessary funds to have her give birth at the private establishment, and she had to go to a public hospital, which is when her nightmare began.
Image credits:Nadia Higson for AIMS
In an interview with local media, Ribeiro recounted themidwivesinsulting and ignoring her as she waited for her turn, her leg dripping with amniotic fluid. She then described how she was coerced into a natural birth against medical advice, culminating in the tragic incident.
Image credits:Monica J. Casper
“These events can lead to both physical and psychological injuries that can last a lifetime,” AIMS added, pointing to PTSD and self-harm as common side effects ofobstetric violence.
“Considering that up to 20% of mothers suffer from postpartum depression, timely access to mental health services is essential for preventing long-term adverse effects on both mother and child,” Casper stated.
Obstetric violence affects almost half of all births in developed countries, with women from vulnerable backgrounds being particularly at risk
View this post on Instagram
These numbers become even worse when the women come from low-income backgrounds, Casper explained. “Women who are marginalized—whether racially or economically, are far more likely to be subject to obstetric violence.”
Image credits:Globo G1
“It’s not just poverty,” she added, reflecting on the socioeconomic background of Ribeiro. “It’s intersecting identities and structural locations. Poor black women will be more at risk than poor white women.”
The Dean shared how, according to a New York Department of Health maternal mortality and morbidityreportpublished in 2022, out of 57 pregnancy-associated deaths in that city in 2019, 26 were African-American, and 20 others were of Latin American descent.
According to Casper, the malpractice was so prevalent in underdeveloped countries that current terminology originated there.
“The term obstetric violence in its current usage was coined in Venezuela in 2007,” Casper explained.
Casper accused obstetricians of “gaslighting” patients, using their status to silence their concerns and even cover their tracks
Image credits:freestockcenter / Freepik (Not the actual image)
Image credits:wavebreakmedia_micro / Freepik (Not the actual image)
The Dean also delved into what she called “medical gaslighting” in the field of maternity care, describing how female patients’ experiences are oftendisregarded“in much the same way that survivors ofgender-based violenceare routinely disbelieved and re-victimized.”
Casper accused healthcare professionals in the area of using their “expert” status to reframe the lived experiences of those who have suffered obstetric violence.
“They position obstetrics as ethical in its intentions and therefore harmless in its outcomes, conflating intention with outcome,” she stated.
For the experts, holding medical personnel accountable is vital, as well as informing patients of their rights and the legal pathways available
What do you think needs to change to delliver safer maternity and neonatal services? AIMS has responded to Sands & Tommy…
When asked about what should be done to help minimize the effects of obstetric violence, both Higson and Casper pointed to advocacy and information as crucial elements.
“Patient advocacy and including these advocates in care settings is essential,” she said, emphasizing the importance of neutral parties in determining accountability when the mother’s rights are at risk or compromised during medical decisions that affect her and the child’s well-being.
“When providers abuse patients, there should be accountability measures in place,” Casper added in light of Ribeiro’s experience, being entirely at the mercy of the public hospital’s workers.”
Image credits:Wesley Tingey / Unsplash (Not the actual image)
Higson and her team at AIMS agree and have drafted apaperwith a number of steps to address the issue, which include ongoing education for relevant staff, the information provided to all maternity service users of their rights and the legal pathways available, and the employ of independent bodies to review said complaints.
While their recommendations paint a path forward in protecting patients from obstetric violence, both professionals argued that lawmakers have been slow to respond to the issue and that there’s still much to be done.
“It’s a human rights issue,” AIMS noted. “Failure to address obstetric violence could lead to many maternity service users experiencing violations to them.”
AIMS is a volunteer network that relies on donations and membership subscriptions. Those interested in its work can check out its websitehere.
“It should not be allowed,” netizens reacted with horror at the news of what happened to the Brazilian mom, sharing their own stories of dealing with obstetric violence
Thanks! Check out the results:You May LikePassengers Upset After Plane Makes Emergency Landing Due To “Serious Medical” Crisis On BoardKarina Babenok“Call Me Lazy”: Mother, 34, Stuns With Ozempic Transformation And Side EffectKarina Babenok"Not An Airline Problem": Airlines' Consideration Of Weight-Based Fees Sparks ControversyRenan Duarte
Karina Babenok
Renan Duarte
News
