Obstetric violence: influences of the senses of birth exhibition in pregnant women childbirth experience

Abstract

Excessive interventions during labor in Brazil have been reported as disrespect and abuse and contribute to neonatal and maternal morbidity and mortality. The Senses of Birth exhibition aims to encourage normal birth to promote health and improve the experience of childbirth in the country. This article describes the characteristics of 555 women who visited the exhibition during pregnancy and their perception of obstetric violence in childbirth. Obstetric violence was reported by 12.6% of the women, mostly low-income and unmarried. It was associated to lithotomic position and Kristeller maneuver during childbirth and non-immediate skin-toskin contact with the baby. The main categories of obstetric violence reported were: Not accepted interventions /accepted interventions on the basis of partial information (36.9%), undignified care/verbal abuse (33.0%); physical abuse (13.6%); non-confidential/non-privative care (2.9%) and discrimination (2.9%). Visiting the exhibition significantly increased pregnant women’s knowledge about obstetric violence. However, recognition of obsolete or harmful practices as obstetric violence was still low. Initiatives such as Senses of Birth may contribute to increase knowledge and social mobilization to disseminate good practices in childbirth care.