Abstract
Background
The mistreatment of women during pregnancy, childbirth, and the puerperium is a global
public health problem besides being a violation of human rights. However, research
exploring the consequences of mistreatment of women and newborns is scarce.
Question
To shed light on this issue, we investigated the association between the mistreatment
of women during childbirth and the subsequent use of postnatal health services by
women and their newborns.
Methods
We used data from the study “Birth in Brazil”, a national hospital-based survey of
puerperal women and their newborns, carried out in 2011/2012. This analysis involved
19,644 women. Mistreatment was a latent variable composed of seven indicators. We
assessed the attendance of women and newborns to a review consultation following birth,
and the timing of this appointment. We applied multigroup structural equation modeling
(based on childbirth payment source) and considered separate analysis for women (vaginal
births and0 caesarean-sections) and newborns.
Findings
We found a causal association between mistreatment during childbirth and decreased
and/or delayed use of postnatal health services, for both women and their newborns.
These results also revealed that women who use the public sector are affected more
than those who pay for private healthcare.
Conclusion
Mistreatment during childbirth has broader implications than “maternal mental health”,
and it would be useful to understand that experience of care has vast implications
for families. In Brazil, the mistreatment must be mitigated via the implementation
of public policy. This is part of the path to dignified and respectful childbirth
care for all women.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: March 09, 2021
Accepted:
February 24,
2021
Received in revised form:
February 23,
2021
Received:
November 6,
2020
Identification
Copyright
© 2021 Australian College of Midwives. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
