Prevalence of obstetric violence in high‐income countries: A systematic review of mixed studies and meta‐analysis of quantitative studies
Abstract Introduction Obstetric violence, or mistreatment of women in obstetric care, can have severe consequences such as fear of future childbirth, post‐traumatic stress disorder, and depression. Material and Methods The primary objective was to estimate the prevalence of obstetric violence in hig...
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Wiley
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1111/aogs.14962 |
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| author | Laura Katrina Fraser Naomi Cano‐Ibáñez Carmen Amezcua‐Prieto Khalid Saeed Khan Ronald F. Lamont Jan Stener Jørgensen |
| author_facet | Laura Katrina Fraser Naomi Cano‐Ibáñez Carmen Amezcua‐Prieto Khalid Saeed Khan Ronald F. Lamont Jan Stener Jørgensen |
| author_sort | Laura Katrina Fraser |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Introduction Obstetric violence, or mistreatment of women in obstetric care, can have severe consequences such as fear of future childbirth, post‐traumatic stress disorder, and depression. Material and Methods The primary objective was to estimate the prevalence of obstetric violence in high‐income countries. The secondary objective was to extract the main domains of obstetric violence perceived by women from qualitative studies. Following prospective registration (PROSPERO CRD42023468570), PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, CINAHL, Embase, and Cochrane Library were searched with no restrictions. Included studies were cross‐sectional, cohort, mixed methods, and qualitative studies based on populations from high‐income countries. The review was conducted by two independent reviewers. Risk of bias was assessed. Rates of obstetric violence were pooled using random effects model, computing 95% confidence intervals (CI) and assessing heterogeneity using I2 statistic. Funnel plots and Egger's test were used to detect potential reporting biases and small‐study effects. Results Of the 1821 records screened, 25 studies were included: 14 quantitative and 2 mixed methods studies, comprising 60 987 women, and 9 qualitative studies were included, comprising an additional 4356 women. 81.25% of quantitative studies, including the quantitative component of the mixed methods studies, were considered satisfactory or better regarding risk of bias. The prevalence of obstetric violence was overall 45.3% (95% CI 27.5–63.0; I2 = 100.0%). The prevalence of specific forms of mistreatment was also estimated. Lack of access to analgesia was 17.3% (95% CI 6.9–27.7; I2 = 99.7%). Ignored requests for help was 19.2% (95% CI 11.7–26.6; I2 = 99.0%). Shouting and scolding 19.7% (95% CI 13.0–26.4; I2 = 98.7%). The use of fundal pressure during the second stage of labor (Kristeller maneuver) was 30.3% (95% CI 22.1–38.5; I2 = 97.6%). There was no funnel asymmetry. Lack of information and/or consent were the most frequent domains extracted from the qualitative articles and the qualitative component of the mixed methods studies. Conclusions The results demonstrate that obstetric violence is a prevalent problem that women in high‐income countries experience. Lack of information and/or consent were the domains most frequently described in the qualitative studies and the qualitative component of the mixed methods studies. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 0001-6349 1600-0412 |
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| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
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| series | Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica |
| spelling | doaj-art-e2ebb7febcf4451b811e47e0929e19cb2025-08-20T02:36:35ZengWileyActa Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica0001-63491600-04122025-01-011041132810.1111/aogs.14962Prevalence of obstetric violence in high‐income countries: A systematic review of mixed studies and meta‐analysis of quantitative studiesLaura Katrina Fraser0Naomi Cano‐Ibáñez1Carmen Amezcua‐Prieto2Khalid Saeed Khan3Ronald F. Lamont4Jan Stener Jørgensen5Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Sygehus Sønderjylland Aabenraa DenmarkDepartment of Preventive Medicine and Public Health University of Granada, Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Granada Granada SpainDepartment of Preventive Medicine and Public Health University of Granada, Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Granada Granada SpainDepartment of Preventive Medicine and Public Health University of Granada, Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Granada Granada SpainDepartment of Gynecology and Obstetrics University of Southern Denmark, Institute of Clinical Research, Research Unit of Gynecology and Obstetrics Odense DenmarkDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology Sygehus Sønderjylland Aabenraa DenmarkAbstract Introduction Obstetric violence, or mistreatment of women in obstetric care, can have severe consequences such as fear of future childbirth, post‐traumatic stress disorder, and depression. Material and Methods The primary objective was to estimate the prevalence of obstetric violence in high‐income countries. The secondary objective was to extract the main domains of obstetric violence perceived by women from qualitative studies. Following prospective registration (PROSPERO CRD42023468570), PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, CINAHL, Embase, and Cochrane Library were searched with no restrictions. Included studies were cross‐sectional, cohort, mixed methods, and qualitative studies based on populations from high‐income countries. The review was conducted by two independent reviewers. Risk of bias was assessed. Rates of obstetric violence were pooled using random effects model, computing 95% confidence intervals (CI) and assessing heterogeneity using I2 statistic. Funnel plots and Egger's test were used to detect potential reporting biases and small‐study effects. Results Of the 1821 records screened, 25 studies were included: 14 quantitative and 2 mixed methods studies, comprising 60 987 women, and 9 qualitative studies were included, comprising an additional 4356 women. 81.25% of quantitative studies, including the quantitative component of the mixed methods studies, were considered satisfactory or better regarding risk of bias. The prevalence of obstetric violence was overall 45.3% (95% CI 27.5–63.0; I2 = 100.0%). The prevalence of specific forms of mistreatment was also estimated. Lack of access to analgesia was 17.3% (95% CI 6.9–27.7; I2 = 99.7%). Ignored requests for help was 19.2% (95% CI 11.7–26.6; I2 = 99.0%). Shouting and scolding 19.7% (95% CI 13.0–26.4; I2 = 98.7%). The use of fundal pressure during the second stage of labor (Kristeller maneuver) was 30.3% (95% CI 22.1–38.5; I2 = 97.6%). There was no funnel asymmetry. Lack of information and/or consent were the most frequent domains extracted from the qualitative articles and the qualitative component of the mixed methods studies. Conclusions The results demonstrate that obstetric violence is a prevalent problem that women in high‐income countries experience. Lack of information and/or consent were the domains most frequently described in the qualitative studies and the qualitative component of the mixed methods studies.https://doi.org/10.1111/aogs.14962disrespect and abuse in obstetric careobstetric violencewomen's rights |
| spellingShingle | Laura Katrina Fraser Naomi Cano‐Ibáñez Carmen Amezcua‐Prieto Khalid Saeed Khan Ronald F. Lamont Jan Stener Jørgensen Prevalence of obstetric violence in high‐income countries: A systematic review of mixed studies and meta‐analysis of quantitative studies Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica disrespect and abuse in obstetric care obstetric violence women's rights |
| title | Prevalence of obstetric violence in high‐income countries: A systematic review of mixed studies and meta‐analysis of quantitative studies |
| title_full | Prevalence of obstetric violence in high‐income countries: A systematic review of mixed studies and meta‐analysis of quantitative studies |
| title_fullStr | Prevalence of obstetric violence in high‐income countries: A systematic review of mixed studies and meta‐analysis of quantitative studies |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prevalence of obstetric violence in high‐income countries: A systematic review of mixed studies and meta‐analysis of quantitative studies |
| title_short | Prevalence of obstetric violence in high‐income countries: A systematic review of mixed studies and meta‐analysis of quantitative studies |
| title_sort | prevalence of obstetric violence in high income countries a systematic review of mixed studies and meta analysis of quantitative studies |
| topic | disrespect and abuse in obstetric care obstetric violence women's rights |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1111/aogs.14962 |
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