Abuse and Disrespect in Obstetric Care in the United States: A Qualitative Descriptive Study of Nurse Experiences

IF 2.5 3区医学 Q1 NURSING Birth-Issues in Perinatal Care Pub Date : 2025-03-03 DOI:10.1111/birt.12905

Umber Darilek, Sara L. Gill

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Abstract

Background

This qualitative descriptive study of the experiences of US labor and delivery nurses follows the World Health Organization's call to address abuse and disrespect of women in maternity care. The majority of research about abuse and disrespect for childbearing women has been conducted in Africa, Asia, and Europe, but the US is unique as a high-income country with largely capitalist or privatized health care. The objective of this study was to gain knowledge about abuse and disrespect in hospital-based maternity care in the US from the perspective of labor and delivery nurses.

Methods

Using a qualitative descriptive methodology, online data collection followed by optional interviews, we solicited the experiences of labor and delivery nurses regarding their experiences with patients being treated unethically in obstetric care. Content analysis was used to interpret the data into themes.

Results

One hundred sixty-eight (N = 168) participants provided written examples of unethical treatment they had witnessed in their professional experience, and 7 interviews were conducted. Four major themes were identified: Violation of the Trust that We are Going to Keep You and Your Baby Safe; Assault; Stripping a Patient of Autonomy; and Failure of the Hospital to Provide Safe Conditions for Birth.

Discussion

People within the healthcare system are aware of abuse and disrespect, but it is often hidden by stakeholders who have conflicting interests. Perpetrators of abuse and disrespect are people and systems. More research is necessary to quantify and address the problems from within the healthcare system.

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美国产科护理中的虐待与不尊重：护士经历的定性描述研究》。

背景：这一定性描述性研究的经验，美国劳动和分娩护士遵循世界卫生组织的呼吁，解决虐待和不尊重妇女在产妇护理。大多数关于虐待和不尊重育龄妇女的研究都是在非洲、亚洲和欧洲进行的，但美国作为一个高收入国家，其医疗保健基本上是资本主义或私有化的，这是独一无二的。本研究的目的是从劳动和分娩护士的角度了解美国医院产科护理中的虐待和不尊重行为。方法：采用定性描述方法，在线收集数据，然后进行选择性访谈，我们征求了分娩和分娩护士关于他们在产科护理中对患者进行不道德治疗的经历。使用内容分析将数据解释为主题。结果：168名（N = 168）参与者提供了他们在职业经历中目睹的不道德待遇的书面例子，并进行了7次访谈。确定了四个主要主题：违反我们将保护您和您的宝宝安全的信任；攻击;剥夺病人的自主权；以及医院未能提供安全的分娩条件。讨论：医疗保健系统内的人们意识到虐待和不尊重，但往往被利益冲突的利益相关者隐藏起来。虐待和不尊重的肇事者是人和制度。需要更多的研究来量化和解决医疗保健系统内部的问题。

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来源期刊

Birth-Issues in Perinatal Care 医学-妇产科学

CiteScore

4.10

自引率

4.00%

发文量

审稿时长

>12 weeks

期刊介绍： Birth: Issues in Perinatal Care is a multidisciplinary, refereed journal devoted to issues and practices in the care of childbearing women, infants, and families. It is written by and for professionals in maternal and neonatal health, nurses, midwives, physicians, public health workers, doulas, social scientists, childbirth educators, lactation counselors, epidemiologists, and other health caregivers and policymakers in perinatal care.