Mistreatment in healthcare: peripartum experience in a Tunisian maternity

Background

Mistreatment in healthcare is defined by the set of behaviors, acts, and omissions committed by the healthcare providers on patients. Pregnant women can be exposed to this behavior during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. It can have several aspects and affects the women's mental health, social and professional life, and also their newborns and families.

Objective

This study was made to estimate the frequency of mistreatment during the peripartum period in a Tunisian maternity unit, determine its impact on the parturient and her entourage, and draw up recommendations for the prevention of this public health problem.

Study Design

We conducted a cross-sectional survey in Department C of the Tunis Maternity and Neonatology Center from July 2022 to September 30, 2022. Our questionnaire encompassed verbal and physical abuse, patient information, consent, unprofessional conduct, poor communication, and discrimination.

Results

This study included 400 patients. The average age was 29.3+–5.65. Single women represented 12.3% of the cases. Seventy-five percent of women reported having been victims of at least one type of violence during childbirth. Verbal abuse was the most frequent type observed. Eighty-two percent of women reported verbal abuse, while 23.25% underwent physical violence. After the delivery, 391 women (97.8%) stated that the delivery was a source of anxiety and that they were not ready to repeat the experience. Six of them were followed up in psychiatry. Mistreatment was expressed by a lack of information and/or respect for consent, unprofessional conduct, or poor communication between the caregiver and the patient.

Conclusion

This study emphasizes the significance of including women in decision-making processes regarding their care. Establishing systematic approaches for providing information and obtaining consent is crucial, ensuring a dynamic approach that promotes women's freedom of choice.