1
|
Wahdan Y, Abu-Rmeileh NME. The association between labor companionship and obstetric violence during childbirth in health facilities in five facilities in the occupied Palestinian territory. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2023; 23:566. [PMID: 37543563 PMCID: PMC10403945 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-023-05811-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Studies show that the presence of companionship during childbirth leads to positive outcomes for women. This study investigates the protective effect of having a labor companion on obstetric violence in the health facilities of the Occupied Palestinian Territory. METHODS A secondary analysis of a cross-sectional study of women who gave birth in five health centers in the occupied Palestinian territory up to 8 weeks following childbirth was performed. The presence of a labor companion was examined in relation to socioeconomic variables and physical abuse, verbal abuse or stigma or discrimination, failure to achieve professional standards, vaginal examinations, and pain relief. RESULTS According to the findings, the total number of women with a labor partner or a birth companion present at any stage during the labor process was 92% in the West Bank, and 77.4% in the Gaza Strip. According to the timing of support, 23.5% of women had a labor companion present during labor, childbirth, and after childbirth whilst in the hospital. Women who did not have labor companions were more likely than women who did to report at least one sort of mistreatment, such as unconsented procedures. Women with a labor companion were less likely to report abuse (16%) compared to women without labor companion. In terms of informed permission for procedures, 75% of women who did not have a labor companion had unconsented episiotomy. CONCLUSION Labor companionship assists women by providing them with companions who are less likely to be mistreated during labor. Efforts should be made to best implement the presence of labor companions, including the duration of the labor companionship and women's preferences.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yasmeen Wahdan
- Institute of Community and Public Health, Birzeit University, West Bank Occupied Palestinian Territory, Birzeit, Palestine.
| | - Niveen M E Abu-Rmeileh
- Institute of Community and Public Health, Birzeit University, West Bank Occupied Palestinian Territory, Birzeit, Palestine
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Balde MD, Nasiri K, Mehrtash H, Soumah AM, Bohren MA, Diallo BA, Irinyenikan TA, Maung TM, Thwin SS, Aderoba AK, Vogel JP, Mon NO, Adu-Bonsaffoh K, Tunçalp Ö. Labour companionship and women's experiences of mistreatment during childbirth: results from a multi-country community-based survey. BMJ Glob Health 2021; 5:bmjgh-2020-003564. [PMID: 33234502 PMCID: PMC7684665 DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2020-003564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2020] [Revised: 09/16/2020] [Accepted: 09/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Evidence has shown the benefits of labour companions during childbirth. Few studies have documented the relationship between the absence of labour companions and mistreatment of women during childbirth in low-income and middle-income countries using a standardised tool. Methods We conducted a secondary analysis of the WHO multi-country study on how women are treated during childbirth, where a cross-sectional community survey was conducted with women up to 8 weeks after childbirth in Ghana, Guinea, Nigeria and Myanmar. Descriptive analysis and multivariable logistic regression were used to examine whether labour companionship was associated with various types of mistreatment. Results Of 2672 women, about half (50.4%) reported the presence of a labour companion. Approximately half (49.6%) of these women reported that the timing of support was during labour and after childbirth and most of the labour companions (47.0%) were their family members. Across Ghana, Guinea and Nigeria, women without a labour companion were more likely to report physical abuse, non-consented medical procedures and poor communication compared with women with a labour companion. However, there were country-level variations. In Guinea, the absence of labour companionship was associated with any physical abuse, verbal abuse, or stigma or discrimination (adjusted OR (AOR) 3.6, 1.9–6.9) and non-consented vaginal examinations (AOR 3.2, 1.6–6.4). In Ghana, it was associated with non-consented vaginal examinations (AOR 2.3, 1.7–3.1) and poor communication (AOR 2.0, 1.3–3.2). In Nigeria, it was associated with longer wait times (AOR 0.6, 0.3–0.9). Conclusion Labour companionship is associated with lower levels of some forms of mistreatment that women experience during childbirth, depending on the setting. Further work is needed to ascertain how best to implement context-specific labour companionship to ensure benefits while maintaining women’s choices and autonomy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mamadou Dioulde Balde
- Cellulle de Recherche en Sante de la Reproduction en Guinee (CERREGUI), Conakry, Guinea
| | - Khalidha Nasiri
- Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research, including UNDP/UNFPA/UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP), World Health Organization, Geneve, Switzerland
| | - Hedieh Mehrtash
- Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research, including UNDP/UNFPA/UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP), World Health Organization, Geneve, Switzerland
| | - Anne-Marie Soumah
- Cellulle de Recherche en Sante de la Reproduction en Guinee (CERREGUI), Conakry, Guinea
| | - Meghan A Bohren
- Centre for Health Equity, University of Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Boubacar Alpha Diallo
- Cellulle de Recherche en Sante de la Reproduction en Guinee (CERREGUI), Conakry, Guinea
| | - Theresa Azonima Irinyenikan
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Clinical Schools, University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital Complex, Akure, Ondo, Nigeria
| | | | - Soe Soe Thwin
- Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research, including UNDP/UNFPA/UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP), World Health Organization, Geneve, Switzerland
| | - Adeniyi K Aderoba
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Clinical Schools, University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital Complex, Akure, Ondo, Nigeria.,Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Mother and Child Hospital, Akure, Ondo, Nigeria
| | - Joshua P Vogel
- Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health Programme, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Nwe Oo Mon
- Department of Medical Research, Yangon, Myanmar
| | - Kwame Adu-Bonsaffoh
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana
| | - Özge Tunçalp
- Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research, including UNDP/UNFPA/UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP), World Health Organization, Geneve, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|