Lisa Isaacs
SOME mothers are slapped, pinched, gagged and even bound while giving birth, a global review of the mistreatment of mothers during childbirth has found.
A research article published last month by PLOS medicine, a US-based medical journal, brought to light the extent of mistreatment of women during childbirth around the globe. They looked at 64 studies from 34 countries, including South Africa.
“These findings illustrate how women’s experiences of childbirth worldwide are marred by mistreatment.
“They indicate that, although the mistreatment of women during delivery in health facilities often occurs at the level of the interaction between women and healthcare providers. Systemic failures at the levels of the health facility and the health system also contribute to its occurrence,” the report said.
Nearly 300 000 women, 99% in low and middle-income countries, died from pregnancy or childbirth-related complications, 2013 statistics show.
It report said a 2007 controlled trial in 10 facilities in and around Johannesburg reported 84.5% of women were not allowed companions during childbirth and 4.3% were slapped or struck while giving birth. It was also found that women said they received differential treatment based on their ethnicity, race or religion.
“In some settings, migrants and refugees received particularly disrespectful care, and may have been expected to pay higher rates for services or to pay bribes,” the review said. This included women refugees in SA.
Studies done between 2008 and 2010 had found that some women in South Africa avoided or feared health facility-based delivery due to anxiety about HIV tests done without their consent. Nurses and midwives from SA and Cambodia confirmed the urge to use physical action to deal with anger or frustration at a “non-compliant” woman.
Judy Strickland of Hope House Counselling Centre in Bergvliet, who offers counselling to mothers, said a traumatic experience during birth would lead to anxiety in mothers and possibly cause stress to babies.
“When the mom is anxious, bonding with her baby could also become an issue,” Strickland said. Some mothers may associate their child with a traumatic childbirth.
“The mom may also be fearful to ask questions about the baby and how to look after their child,” said Strickland.
She said having a companion during labour would decrease the chance of ill-treatment by staff and ensure a support structure for vulnerable women. Some healthcare staff were often stressed and over-worked, which might lead to ill-treatment of patients, she observed.
Sonke Gender Justice child rights and positive parenting portfolio manager Wessel van den Berg said the group advocated for the encouragement of men to get involved in childbirth.
“We need to get fathers involved in the pregnancy and this will encourage a bond between father and child,” he said.
Poor treatment of mothers during childbirth was part of general local health issues which civil society and the government could tackle together.
The provincial health department was approached for comment but did not respond by time of print.