A Systematic Review of Obstetric Mistreatment Among Women Living With HIV.

Abstract

Several studies have established that women living with HIV frequently encounter mistreatment when accessing maternal healthcare. Previous reviews on obstetric mistreatment have largely focused on the general population, leaving an important research gap to fill. As such, we synthesized evidence of obstetric mistreatment among women living with HIV. Six databases were searched in January 2025: CINAHL Plus, Embase, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Of the 4652 articles assessed, 23 studies were included. There was evidence of varying proportions of non-consented care, lack of privacy, non-dignified care, abandonment and neglect, forced sterilization, stigma and discrimination, physical abuse, non-confidential care, and lack of supportive care from maternal healthcare providers. Our qualitative findings revealed experiences of disrespect and abuse, stigma and discrimination, non-dignified care, and forced sterilization. There is substantial evidence that women living with HIV continue to experience diverse forms of mistreatment in maternal care, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. Our findings highlight the urgent need for systemic and structural reforms in maternal healthcare settings to improve the experiences of women living with HIV.