Prevalence and Factors Associated with Disrespect and Abuse During Childbirth Among Mothers Who Delivered at Public Health Facilities in Sodo Woreda, East Gurage Zone, Central Ethiopia.
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2025-12-06
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Background:
In low- and middle-income nations like Ethiopia, violence and disrespect during childbirth are serious global health issues. Maternal health outcomes, human rights, and women's willingness to seek facility-based care are all negatively impacted by such abuses, which range from verbal and physical abuse to denial of informed consent. Evidence is scarce despite increased attention, particularly locally.
Objective:
To assess the prevalence and factors associated with disrespect and abuse during childbirth among mothers who deliver at public health facilities in Sodo Woreda, East Gurage Zone, Central Ethiopia, 2025.
Method:
In 2025, a facility-based mixed-methods study was carried out. 427 postpartum mothers provided quantitative data, and 18 mothers and six providers were interviewed for qualitative data. Five domains were used to measure disrespect and abuse: poor rapport, stigma and discrimination, verbal abuse, physical abuse, and failure to meet professional standards. To account for confounding, all variables with a p-value less than 0.25 in the bi-variable logistic regression analysis were chosen as potential variables for the multivariable logistic regression analysis. When p – value < 0.05 was deemed statistically significant, adjusted odds ratios (AOR) with 95% confidence intervals were presented.
Result:
Overall, the prevalence of disrespect and abuse was 42.4%. Physical abuse had been suffered by 18.3% of the mothers, although 64.6% felt that care was provided without their consent, and 67.4% felt that there was poor communication. Only 34.4% of the women felt safe, although 65.6% felt that they were not involved in decision making for their care. There were several variables that were significantly associated with the risk of disrespect and abuse. Women who had a relative with them during childbirth were 34 times more likely than others who did not have anyone with them (AOR = 34.894, 95% CI = 15.208-80.059). However, women who were allowed to deliver in the position of their choice were less likely than others to experience abuse (AOR = 0.062, 95% CI = 0.025-0.152). On the other hand, women who felt supported by healthcare providers were less likely than others to experience disrespect and abuse. Women who felt they received sufficient support were 81% less likely than others to experience disrespect and abuse (AOR = 0.199, 95% CI = 0.085-0.465). Participants reported that there were inadequacies in privacy provisions when delivering services. Even if the doors and window were closed, this practice did not make them feel safe. A participant asserted, ―During service delivery, there were no adequate measures taken to ensure privacy. Apart from closing the door and window, it did not make me comfortable‖ (Interview 9, 37 years). ―I have not seen a lack of respect or abuse in the service delivery process‖ (interview 1, 25 years). Another participant asserts, ―I have seen a lack of respect or abuse in the service delivery process, which is a result of Ethical issues among professionals.
Conclusion and recommendation:
Disrespect and abuse during childbirth remains extremely common in the study area, suggesting deep-seated issues in the quality of care and respect for maternal rights. Respectful Maternity Care needs to be brought into practice at all levels of the health system. This should include introducing standard-of-care training for providers; supportive supervision; and a woman-centered, culturally sensitive facility.
Description
Keywords
Disrespect and Abuse, Maternity Care, Facility Delivery, Ethiopia.