One in four women in Nepal faces abuse during childbirth

From verbal abuse and discrimination to neglect and physical mistreatment, women continue to face violations during childbirth despite constitutional and legal guarantees of safe motherhood and reproductive health

KAILALI: Motherhood is a person’s fundamental human experience. In this process, women should receive respect, empowerment, and protection. However, incidents of obstetric violence persist in Nepal’s health institutions. According to the Nepal Health Facility Survey 2021, about 25 percent, or one out of four women, experience some form of abuse while giving birth.

According to a study conducted this very year by the Forum for Women, Law and Development, women aged 35 years or older are at higher risk of obstetric violence. Organized by the Forum for Women, Law and Development in collaboration with ‘AmplifyChange,’ a discussion was held on the abuse, violence, and rights violations faced by women during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period in Nepal. In the discussion, coordinator Sabin Shrestha provided information about the study conducted by the forum.

Disrespectful behavior and discrimination

According to Shrestha, there is a major structural challenge in the field of respectful maternity care in Nepal. According to the Nepal Health Facility Survey 2021, among the women who suffered abuse during maternity services, more than 50 percent faced violence. Data shows that among the women experiencing violence, the number of Muslim and Dalit women is higher. According to the study, 23 percent of women experienced verbal abuse or disrespectful behavior from health workers during childbirth. Similarly, 6 percent of women had to face discriminatory behavior.

Attendees of the event held regarding maternal health. Photo: Unnati Chaudhary

The study mentions that 72.2 percent of women faced disrespectful service, and 66.6 percent experienced unsafe service along with a lack of privacy. During hospital stays, 35.6 percent of women were subjected to neglect or disregard. Similarly, the study showed that 13.23 percent of women experienced direct physical abuse such as beating, slapping, pinching, or rude behavior.

The study indicated that there are serious risks in reproductive health and maternity services. The Constitution of Nepal, the Safe Motherhood and Reproductive Health Rights Act, 2018, and the Public Health Service Act, 2018, have recognized maternity and reproductive health as rights. However, Shrestha said that there are still challenges in the practical implementation of those rights.

Obstetric violence worldwide

According to Shrestha, obstetric violence is prevalent worldwide. According to the study, the overall rate of obstetric violence in the Asia-Pacific region is 51 percent. The study mentions that the rate of verbal violence there is 82 percent and the rate of psychological violence is 80.4 percent. Shrestha said that one in five women in Italy and Belgium and one in three in Spain suffer obstetric violence.