Prevalence and factors associated with disrespect and abuse among women who delivered in a University Teaching Hospital in Nigeria

Abstract

Objective To determine the prevalence and factors associated with disrespect and abuse during childbirth among women who delivered in a University Teaching Hospital using a validated tool. Methods This was a cross‐sectional study conducted at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Benin Teaching Hospital. Participants included women who presented for the 6‐week postnatal visit. The primary outcome was the experience of disrespect and abuse by the women in any of the thematic domains in the tool, namely friendly care, abuse‐free care, timely care, discrimination‐free care, abandonment, and non‐consented care. Results In all, 200 participants were enrolled in the study. The prevalence of disrespect and abuse among the study population was 36.5%. Verbal abuse and untimely care were the commonest (15.5%). Nurses were mostly the perpetrators of disrespect and abuse. Maternal age, parity, and marital status among others were not significantly predictive of disrespect and abuse by respondents. Conclusion Disrespect and abuse from health workers during childbirth is a prevalent problem among women who delivered in the hospital. This undesirable experience of childbirth needs to be addressed by stakeholders in maternal health.