Obstetric Violence in the European Union: Situational analysis and policy recommendations.

This study has been undertaken to inform the European Commission on the issue of obstetric violence in European Union Member States and to contribute to the better understanding of this phenomenon and of current responses to the issue. It is undertaken in the context of growing public awareness of and concern about the issue, an established imperative for quality care at childbirth, and an understanding of obstetric violence as a violation of human rights and a form of gender-based violence and institutional violence. Obstetrics is the medical discipline that deals with pregnancy, childbirth and the post-partum period. Obstetric violence has emerged as a concern in policy, research and debate. The Council of Europe has defined it in terms of inappropriate or non-consensual acts, such as episiotomies and vaginal palpation carried out without consent, fundal pressure or painful interventions without anaesthetic, and sexist behaviour in the course of medical consultations. There is some criticism of the term ‘violence’ with the use of ‘abuse’ and ‘disrespect’ viewed as better alternatives, and with the World Health Organization (WHO) setting out ‘mistreatment’ as an overarching term. However, it is argued that the term ‘violence’ better captures the power structures and gender inequalities that frame any such abuse, disrespect and mistreatment.