Title : Assessment of level of disrespect and abuse of women during childbirth in tertiary health care facilities in yenagoa metropolis, southern Nigeria
Abstract:
A hospital-based survey conducted in the two main tertiary health care facilities, in Yenagoa metropolis in South- South Nigeria (i.e. the Federal Medical Centre and the Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital) to Assess the Level of Disrespect and Abuse (D&A) of women during childbirth. It was aimed at identifying the types, prevalence and factors associated with D & A during childbirth. Abraham Maslow’s Self Esteem theory guided this research. The design was a cross-sectional survey carried out on 165 mothers who delivered within 6 weeks (August and September, 2022). Data was collected using Level of disrespect and abuse of Women during Childbirth Scale (LDAWCS). The instrument was designed and validated by the researchers: the reliability coefficient was found to be 0.87 (using the Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient - PPMCC). The statistics used in analyzing the data were simple percentages and PPMCC. Prevalence of disrespect and abuse during childbirth was low with 26.7 % (n=44) of women experienced at least one form. Most frequent types of D&A were: detention for non-payment of bills 50.3% (n=83); women never given the opportunity to make choice of birthing position 58.8% (n=97); carrying out procedures without consent 39.4% (n=65); women left naked in the view of many staff 29.7% (n=49) and women abandoned during labor 21.2% (n=35). There was significant relationship between disrespect and demographic characteristics of parity and education, marital status, ethnicity, income and occupation had moderate evidence of relationship with disrespect and abuse while age and religion showed no significant relationship with D &A at α = 0.05 level of significance. It was recommended that the Nurses and Midwives in these hospitals should be given refresher courses on self esteem and respect for human rights.
