Discrimination against Roma women during childbirth? Unraveling the underlying effects of ethnic and socio-economic factors

Objective

This study aims to identify discrimination in maternity care experienced by Roma women in Hungary, due to ethnic and socio-economic factors.

Methods

We used data from the Cohort’18 Hungarian Birth Cohort Study, covering births in 2018–2019 (n = 7805). Face-to-face interviews were conducted by health visitors during pregnancy and six months postpartum. Differences in obstetric care were tested using Welch’s ANOVA. Logistic regression models estimated the influence of Roma ethnicity on birth position, adjusting for socio-economic variables. Odds ratios with 95 % confidence intervals and adjusted predictions were calculated.

Results

Roma mothers had a lower rate of caesarean section due to fewer planned interventions (13.3% vs. 19.1% for non-Roma mothers). Roma women were less likely than non-Roma women to have a birth attended by a private obstetrician (15% vs. 52.6%) and less likely to have a family member present at the birth (40% vs. 65.5%). For vaginal births, 61.3% of Roma women had their birth position dictated by hospital staff, compared with 40.6% of non-Roma women. Ethnic background significantly influenced the choice of birth position, but these associations were attenuated after adjustment for socio-economic and territorial factors. Variables such as the presence of a private obstetrician, family support, and residence in Central Hungary reduced the likelihood of giving birth in a fixed position.

Conclusion

Roma women face significant disadvantages in maternity care in Hungary. Ethnic background has a negative impact on the quality of care, but it is also significantly influenced by adverse socio-economic and regional factors.