PERCEPTION OF OBSTETRIC VIOLENCE AND QUALITY OF CARE IN THE MAULE REGION, CHILE

Abstract

Objective: To determine the levels of Obstetric Violence (OV) perceived by a sample of women in the Maule Region, Chile, and to establish a link between these levels and their perception of the quality of care. Material and Method: A descriptive, retrospective, cross-sectional study was conducted on women who reported having given birth in a public or private hospital in the Maule Region (n= 474). The women were included in the database of the 1st Regional Study on Sexual and Reproductive Rights and Gender
Violence in Talca, between July and September 2023. The variables considered were obstetric violence,
inadvisable childbirth practices, perceived autonomy and perceptions of the quality of care received during childbirth. According to the nature of the variable, descriptive analysis (frequency, percentage or mean, standard deviation, maximum and minimum) was performed, as well as association tests (Chisquare) and comparisons of means (Student’s t-test). The measure of the associations (Phi) was quantified and the effect size of the comparisons of means (Cohen’s d) was calculated. Results: 35.5% of participants reported experiencing obstetric violence during childbirth. The OV rate was 64% among women who are not heterosexual, compared to 34% among heterosexual women. There was a correlation between experiencing OV and having negative perceptions of quality of care during childbirth. Conclusions: This study confirms the significant prevalence of OV in the Maule Region, affecting one in three surveyed women, constituting an important public health problem