9.2 Women’s experiences of obstetric violence

Globally, significant numbers of women report obstetric violence (OV) during childbirth. The United Nations has identified obstetric violence as gendered violence. Obstetric violence can be perpetrated by any healthcare professional (HCP) and is impacted by systemic issues such as HCP education, staffing ratios, and lack of access to continuity of care.

Dr Hazel Keedle PhD is the lead researcher on the Australia's largest maternity experiences survey, The Birth Experience Study. The study explored the experiences of obstetric violence reported in a national survey in 2021 by women who had a baby in the previous 5 years. Open text comments found three main categories:

"I felt dehumanised," "I felt violated," and "I felt powerless."

Women’s experiences of obstetric violence - moving from dehumanised, violated and powerless to respectful care?

Hosted by:
Sue Macdonald, Midwifery Expert, Mayes Midwifery

Contribution from:
Dr Hazel Keedle PhD, Senior Lecturer of Midwifery, Western Sydney University, Australia

Biography
Dr Hazel Keedle, PhD, is a Senior Lecturer of Midwifery at Western Sydney University, Australia. Hazel has more than two decades of experience as a clinician in nursing and midwifery, educator and researcher. Hazel's research interests are vaginal birth after caesarean, birth trauma, obstetric violence and maternity experiences explored primarily using feminist mixed methodologies. Hazel's work is recognised nationally and internationally, with many invited conference and seminar presentations including academic publications and a book for women based on her PhD findings ‘Birth after Caesarean: Your Journey to a Better Birth’. Hazel is the lead researcher on the Australia's largest maternity experiences survey, The Birth Experience Study.

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