Report Reveals How Women In Ghana & Nigeria Are Abused During Childbirth

A new study by the World Health Organization has revealed that many women in Africa and Asia suffer maltreatment; slaps, mockery, forcibly treated or otherwise abused during childbirth in health centers.

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The three countries where the study was conducted in Africa were Ghana, Nigeria and Guinea.

The researchers conducted continuous labour observations on the women from their time of admission, throughout labour and childbirth, until two-hour post partum.

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The study, found that 838 (42%) of 2,016 women interviewed experienced physical or verbal abuse or some form of stigma or discrimination at maternity health facilities.

14% of those studied also experienced physical abuse – most commonly being slapped, hit or punched.

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The study also found a high number of caesarean sections, vaginal exams and other procedures being performed without the patient’s consent.

It said the most common form of abuse was verbal, adding that, physical and verbal abuse peaked 30 min before birth until 15 min after birth and were most highly concentrated during the 15-min period before birth.

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The study also revealed that whereas 5.3 per cent of the women requested for pain relief, 38.8 per cent of those women did not receive it.

It added that most (95.0 per cent) of the women were not asked for their preferred birthing positions.

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Further stating that while some women in Guinea (0.2 per cent) and Nigeria (1.5 per cent) were instructed to clean up blood, urine, faeces, or amniotic fluid after birth, none of the women observed in Ghana was asked to do so.

The Way Forward

According to the study, health-care providers require support and training to ensure that women are treated with compassion and dignity.

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Possible strategies according to the researchers include:

• Redesigning labour wards to meet the needs of women, including allowing for privacy and labour companionship;
• Improving the informed consent process around all medical interventions;
• Providing sufficient mentoring and support for health workers to help them deliver better quality care;

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• Allowing all women who want one to have a companion of their choice with them throughout labour and childbirth;
• Building public demand for high quality maternity services that provide women-centred care and do not tolerate any form of mistreatment.