Prevalence and determinants of obstetric violence during facility-based childbirth among postnatal women in Egypt

Abstract

Obstetric violence (OV) is a significant public health concern involving disrespectful, abusive, and non-consented practices during maternity care. This cross-sectional study investigated its prevalence and determinants among 235 postnatal women in hospitals under the Giza Health Affairs Directorate, Egypt. Women aged 18 years or older who delivered and were preparing for discharge were enrolled; those with loss of consciousness during hospitalization were excluded. Face-to-face interviews used a structured questionnaire covering sociodemographic data, obstetric history, seven domains of OV, and patient satisfaction. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and logistic regression (p ≤ 0.05). The primary outcome was OV prevalence (any affirmative response to violence-related questions); the secondary outcome was identifying factors associated with OV. Of 235 women, 39.15% experienced OV, mainly prolonged waiting (11.91%) and verbal abuse (9.36%), with rare non-consented interventions. No significant associated factors were found. Satisfaction was high for compassionate care (86.81%) and control (85.53%), while 31.91% were dissatisfied with problem resolution. This study identified a moderate prevalence of OV among women, highlighting the need to strengthen respectful maternity care practices through policy improvements, healthcare provider training, and system-level interventions.