Factors Associated with the Perception of Obstetric Violence and Its Emotional Impact on Healthcare Training: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Obstetric violence (OV) is a violation of women’s human rights during reproductive processes. Despite being the subject of debate among healthcare professionals, increasingly recognized, and legislated against in some countries, OV continues to be reproduced and normalized during training. The objective of this study was to determine the perception of OV among health sciences students and gynaecology and obstetrics residents. Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted with 304 health sciences students and gynaecology and obstetrics residents in Spain. An online questionnaire was distributed that gathered information on sociodemographic variables and clinical experience and included the validated PercOV-S instrument. Descriptive and bivariate analyses were performed to explore associations between variables. Results: The overall perception of OV was moderately high (mean 3.93/5), with higher scores for visible or protocolized forms (4.27/5) than for invisible or subtle forms (2.87/5). Being a woman, being a midwifery resident, or having had personal experiences with pregnancy or childbirth increased sensitivity to OV. Clinical exposure in obstetrics and gynaecology services increased both awareness and the likelihood of witnessing OV. Twenty-eight percent of students reported having observed OV, and twenty percent reported emotional distress, even considering dropping out. Conclusions: Despite the recognition of OV, repeated exposure during training can promote its normalization. The results of this study highlight the need for safe, reflective training environments that mainstream feminist perspectives, sexual rights, and the detection of subtle forms of OV.