Intrapartum Obstetric Violence and Associated Factors Among Women Attending Delivery Care at Public Health Facilities of Gondar City: A Cross‐Sectional Study
Mequanente Dagnaw, Meera Indracanti, Suleyman Mohammed ArageABSTRACT
Introduction
Violence against women is a major human rights violation and public health concern with serious physical, mental, sexual, and reproductive consequences. Intrapartum obstetric violence can damage trust in healthcare providers and discourage women from using facility‐based maternity services, sometimes more than geographic or financial barriers. However, evidence on intrapartum obstetric violence in Ethiopia remains limited.
Objective
This study aimed to assess the prevalence of Intrapartum Obstetric violence and its associated factors among women attending delivery care at public hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Methods
An institution‐based cross‐sectional study was conducted among 316 postpartum women at six public hospitals in Gondar city from June 11 to July 31, 2023. Study participants were selected using systematic random sampling. Data were collected using an interviewer‐administered, pretested questionnaire conducted in a face‐to‐face setting. Interviews were carried out at a consistent postpartum time point prior to discharge from the health facility. Collected data were checked for completeness, entered into EpiData version 3.1, and exported to SPSS version 25 for analysis. Descriptive statistics were presented using narration, tables, and figures. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with intrapartum obstetric violence. Odds ratios with corresponding 95% confidence intervals were used to assess the strength of associations.
Result
The magnitude of intrapartum obstetric violence was 27.3%. Age of mothers (AOR: 1.24, 95% CI (1.23, 13.95), educational level of mothers AOR: 24, 95% CI (0.02, 0.37), number of delivery (AOR: 1.35, 95% CI (1.20, 1.53), mode of delivery AOR: 0.27, 95% CI (0.18, 0.44) and occurrence of complication AOR; 0.16, 95% CI (0.03, 0.90) were factors that had association with the intrapartum obstetric violence.
Conclusion
More than one‐fourth of participants experienced intrapartum obstetric violence. Maternal age, education, parity, mode of delivery, and complications were significantly associated. Hospitals should implement context‐specific interventions targeting these risk factors to reduce obstetric violence.