Obstetric violence: women perception during labor in two hospitals in Nahua-Mixteca zone

Background: Multiple studies in Latin America reveal that a large number of gynecological patients suffer a kind of obstetric violence in institutional care, which is defined as the appropriation of women's bodies by health personnel, increasing morbidity and mortality rates.Objective: To determine the frequency of indirect actions that represent obstetric violence, in a group of patients in the immediate puerperium in rural hospitals in the Nahua-Mixtec area of the States of Puebla and Guerrero.Method: Prospective and descriptive study carried out from January 1 to August 30, 2019, in which the occurrence of obstetric violence was investigated in 296 patients treated during the immediate postpartum period.Sociodemographic variables, medical procedures during labor, friendly labor initiative, and delivery were investigated in the clinical record.Results: Verbal aggression was documented in 14.1% of the group, with the doctor being the most frequent aggressor, followed by nursing staff; however, aggression by other types of personnel was also documented.In 13.5% there was no evidence of empathy with the emotions of labor.Conclusions: A high frequency of obstetric violence was demonstrated, a partial improvement in the friendly delivery initiative and a high percentage of obstetric procedures that carry risks for the woman and the newborn.