IMPROVING MIDWIFERY STUDENTS' AWARENESS OF OBSTETRIC VIOLENCE: AN ACTION RESEARCH

Sercan Mansuroğlu; Ayşegül Unutkan

doi:10.54005/geneltip.1662052

TR EN

EBELİK ÖĞRENCİLERİNİN OBSTETRİK ŞİDDET FARKINDALIKLARININ ARTIRILMASI: BİR EYLEM ARAŞTIRMASI

Abstract

Amaç: Obstetrik şiddet, doğum süreçlerinde kadınların ruh sağlığını önemli ölçüde etkileyen ve yeterince tanınmayan bir olgudur ve önleyici-müdahale edici çabalar gerektiren yaygın bir halk sağlığı sorunu olarak tanımlanmaktadır. Bu çalışmanın amacı, ebelik öğrencilerinin bakış açısından obstetrik şiddet farkındalık eğitiminin etkinliğini değerlendirmektir.
Gereç ve Yöntemler: Nitel desende bir eylem araştırması olarak yürütülen ve on ebelik öğrencisinin katıldığı bu çalışmada öğrencilere iki oturumdan oluşan dört saatlik “Obstetrik Şiddet Farkındalık Geliştirme Eğitimi” verilmiştir. Eğitim sonrasında öğrencilerin obstetrik şiddet hakkındaki düşünceleri yarı yapılandırılmış bir form kullanılarak derinlemesine görüşmeler yoluyla içerik analizi yöntemiyle değerlendirilmiştir.
Bulgular: İçerik analizi, öğrencilerin doğum şiddetine ilişkin değişen tanımları, şiddetin fiziksel, psikolojik ve yapısal biçimlerinin farkına varılması, iş yükü ve hiyerarşik baskı gibi algılanan nedenler, şiddete tanık olmanın duygusal ve psikolojik etkileri, önleme stratejileri ve eğitim sonrasında kazanılan dönüştürücü içgörüler de dahil olmak üzere birbiriyle ilişkili altı temayı ortaya çıkarmıştır.
Sonuçlar: Obstetrik şiddet farkındalığını geliştirmek amacıyla yapılan bu eylem araştırması sonucunda obstetrik şiddetin tanımlarının yapılabileceği, şiddet türlerinin ve nedenlerinin anlatılabileceği, şiddete tanık olmanın psikopatolojilere yol açtığı, şiddeti önlemek için neler yapılabileceği ve eğitim sonrası neler kazanılabileceği sonuçlarına ulaşılmıştır.

Keywords

Obstetrik şiddet, Ebelik öğrencileri, Şiddet farkındalığı, Kadın ruh sağlığı, Eylem araştırması

IMPROVING MIDWIFERY STUDENTS' AWARENESS OF OBSTETRIC VIOLENCE: AN ACTION RESEARCH

Abstract

Aim: Obstetric violence is a poorly recognized phenomenon that significantly affects women’s mental health during childbirth and is considered a widespread public health problem requiring preventive and intervention efforts. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of obstetric violence awareness training from the perspective of midwifery students.
Materials and Methods: In this study, which was conducted as an action research in qualitative design and attended by ten midwifery students, students were given a four-hour “Obstetric Violence Awareness Development Training” consisting of two sessions. After the training, students’ thoughts about obstetric violence were evaluated by content analysis method through in-depth interviews using a semi-structured form.
Results: Content analysis revealed six interrelated themes, including students’ evolving definitions of obstetric violence, recognition of its physical, psychological, and structural forms, perceived causes such as workload and hierarchical pressure, emotional and psychological impacts of witnessing violence, prevention strategies, and transformative insights gained after the training.
Conclusions: As a result of this action research conducted to improve obstetric violence awareness, it was concluded that definitions of obstetric violence can be made, types and causes of violence can be described, witnessing violence leads to psychopathologies, what can be done to prevent violence, and what can be gained after the training.

Keywords

Action research, Midwifery students, Obstetric violence, Violence awareness, Women

Supporting Institution

This research received no funding.

Ethical Statement

Written permissions were obtained from the ethics committee of the Kütahya Health Sciences University (number 2024/10-06 on 12/08/2024).

Thanks

We would like to thank the students who participated in the study.

References

1. World Health Organization. The prevention and elimination of disrespect and abuse during facility-based childbirth: WHO statement. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2014. Report No.: WHO/RHR/14.23.
2. Chattopadhyay S, Mishra A, Jacob S. ‘Safe’, yet violent? Women’s experiences with obstetric violence during hospital births in rural Northeast India. Cult Health Sex. 2018;20(7):815–29.
3. Mesenburg MA, Victora CG, Serruya SJ, Ponce de León R, Damaso AH, Domingues MR, et al. Disrespect and abuse of women during the process of childbirth in the 2015 Pelotas birth cohort. Reprod Health. 2018;15(1):54. 4. Aşci Ö, Bal MD. The prevalence of obstetric violence experienced by women during childbirth care and its associated factors in Türkiye: A cross-sectional study. Midwifery. 2023;124:103766.
5. Avcı N, Kaydırak MM. A qualitative study of women’s experiences with obstetric violence during childbirth in Turkey. Midwifery. 2023;121:103658.
6. Kaya Z, Hotun Şahin N. Kadınların obstetrik şiddet deneyimleri: Sistematik derleme. Mersin Univ Saglik Bilim Derg. 2021;14(3):509–19.
7. Bohren MA, Mehrtash H, Fawole B, Maung TM, Balde MD, et al. How women are treated during facility-based childbirth in four countries: a cross-sectional study with labour observations and community-based surveys. Lancet. 2019;394(10210):1750–63.
8. Clesse C, Lighezzolo-Alnot J, de Lavergne S, Hamlin S, Scheffler M. The evolution of birth medicalisation: A systematic review. Midwifery. 2018;66:161–7.
9. Hill N, Castañed AN, editors. Obstetric violence: realities, and resistance from around the world. Toronto: Demeter Press; 2022.
10. Ribeiro DO, Gomes GC, Oliveira AMN, Alvarez SQ, Gonçalves BG, Acosta DF. Obstetric violence in the perception of multiparous women. Rev Gaucha Enferm. 2020;41:e20190419.
11. Lambert J, Etsane E, Bergh AM, Pattinson R, van den Broek N. ‘I thought they were going to handle me like a queen but they didn’t’: A qualitative study exploring the quality of care provided to women at the time of birth. Midwifery. 2018;62:256–63.

12. Karabulut K, Unutkan A. Obstetrik Şiddet ve Ebelik. Mersin Univ Tip Fak Lokman Hekim Tip Tarihi Folklorik Tip Derg. 2024;14(3):459–69.
13. Rodríguez-Almagro J, Hernández-Martínez A, Rodríguez-Almagro D, Quirós-García JM, Martínez-Galiano JM, Gómez-Salgado J. Women’s perceptions of living a traumatic childbirth experience and factors related to a birth experience. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2019;16(9):1654.
14. Yalley AA, Jarašiūnaitė-Fedosejeva G, Kömürcü-Akik B, de Abreu L. Addressing obstetric violence: a scoping review of interventions in healthcare and their impact on maternal care quality. Front Public Health. 2024;12:1388858.
15. Perdomo-Rubio A, Martínez-Silva PA, Lafaurie-Villamil MM, Cañón-Crespo AF, Rubio-León DC. Discursos sobre la violencia obstétrica en la prensa de países latinoamericanos: cambios y continuidades en el campo de la atención. Rev Fac Nac Salud Pública. 2019;37(2):125–35.
16. Gray T, Mohan S, Lindow S, Pandey U, Farrell T. Obstetric violence: Comparing medical student perceptions in India and the UK. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 2021;261:98–102.
17. Silva TMD, Sousa KHJF, Oliveira ADS, Amorim FCM, Almeida CAPL. Obstetric violence: theme approach in the training of certified nurse-midwives. Acta Paul Enferm. 2020;33:eAPE20190146.
18. Jha P, Larsson M, Christensson K, Svanberg AS. Fear of childbirth and depressive symptoms among postnatal women: a cross-sectional survey from Chhattisgarh, India. Women Birth. 2018;31(2):e122–e133.
19. Unutkan A, Elem E. “Normal in all the rush”: A phenomenological study analyzing midwifery students’ views on obstetric violence. Nurse Educ Today. 2024;132:106014.
20. Mena-Tudela D, González-Chordá VM, Soriano-Vidal FJ, Bonanad-Carrasco T, Centeno-Rico L, et al. Changes in health sciences students’ perception of obstetric violence after an educational intervention. Nurse Educ Today. 2020;88:104364.
21. Özdemir M. Nitel veri analizi: sosyal bilimlerde yöntembilim sorunsalı üzerine bir çalışma. Eskişehir Osmangazi Univ Sos Bilim Derg. 2010;11(1):323–43.
22. Stringer ET. Action research in education. Upper Saddle River (NJ): Pearson Prentice Hall; 2014.
23. Speziale HS, Streubert HJ, Carpenter DR. Qualitative research in nursing: advancing the humanistic imperative. Philadelphia (PA): Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2011.
24. Kemmis S, McTaggart R, Nixon R. The action research planner: doing critical participatory action research. New York (NY): Springer; 2014.
25. Tong A, Sainsbury P, Craig J. Consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ): a 32-item checklist for interviews and focus groups. Int J Qual Health Care. 2007;19(6):349-57.
26. Creswell JW, Creswell JD. Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. 5th ed. USA: Sage Publications; 2018.
27. Başkale H. Nitel araştırmalarda geçerlik, güvenirlik ve örneklem büyüklüğünün belirlenmesi. DEUHFD. 2016;9(1):23-8.
28. Biurrun-Garrido A, Brigidi S, Mena-Tudela D. Perception of health sciences and feminist medical students about obstetric violence. Enferm Clin (Engl Ed). 2023;33(3):234–43.
29. Yıldırım A, Şimşek H. Sosyal bilimlerde nitel araştırma yöntemleri. Ankara: Seçkin Yayıncılık; 2016.
30. Graneheim UH, Lundman B. Qualitative content analysis in nursing research: concepts, procedures and measures to achieve trustworthiness. Nurse Educ Today. 2004;24(2):105-12.
31. Lincoln YS, Guba EG. Naturalistic inquiry. California: Sage Publications; 1985.
32. Calpbinici P, Kızılırmak A, Yavuz NŞ. “Mesleğe giden travmatik bir yol” Öğrenci hemşirelerin gözünden obstetrik şiddet: Nitel bir çalışma. 4. Uluslararası 7. Ulusal Kültürlerarası Hemşirelik Kongresi; 2023. [Online].
33. Khosla R, Zampas C, Vogel JP, Bohren MA, Roseman M, Erdman JN. International human rights and the mistreatment of women during childbirth. Health Hum Rights. 2016;18(2):131–43.
34. Annborn A, Finnbogadóttir HR. Obstetric violence: a qualitative interview study. Midwifery. 2022;105:103212.
35. Gomes AAP, Gomes RM, Lira MOSCE, Suto CSS, Machado JC, Rodrigues VP. Social representations of nursing students about obstetric violence: study with a structural approach. Rev Gaúcha Enferm. 2024;45:e20230184.
36. Chervenak FA, McLeod-Sordjan R, Pollet SL, De Four Jones M, Gordon MR, Combs A, et al. Obstetric violence is a misnomer. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2024;230(3S):S1138–45.
37. Jardim DMB, Modena CM. Obstetric violence in the daily routine of care and its characteristics. Rev Lat Am Enfermagem. 2018;26:e3069.
38. Mohamoud YA, Cassidy E, Fuchs E, Womack LS, Romero L, Kipling L, et al. Vital signs: maternity care experiences – United States, April 2023. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2023;72(35):961–7.
39. Royce CS, Morgan HK, Baecher-Lind L, Cox S, Everett EN, Fleming A, et al. The time is now: addressing implicit bias in obstetrics and gynecology education. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2023;228(4):369–81.
40. Atallah F, Hamm RF, Davidson CM, Combs CA, Patient Safety and Quality Committee. Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine Special Statement: Cognitive bias and medical error in obstetrics - challenges and opportunities. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2022;227(2):B2–10.
41. Carter EB, EleVATE Women Collaborative, Mazzoni SE. A paradigm shift to address racial inequities in perinatal healthcare. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2021;224(4):359–61.
42. Yalley AA. “We Beat Them to Help Them Push”: Midwives’ perceptions on obstetric violence in the Ashante and Western Regions of Ghana. Women. 2023;3(1):22–40.
43. Santiago RV, Monreal LA, Rojas Carmona A, Domínguez MS. “If we’re here, it’s only because we have no money…”: discrimination and violence in Mexican maternity wards. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2018;18(1):244.
44. Salgado M, Wendland M, Rodriguez D, Bohren MA, Oladapo OT, Ojelade OA, et al. Using a service design model to develop the “Passport to Safer Birth” in Nigeria and Uganda. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2017;139 Suppl 1:56–66.
45. Bowser D, Hill K. Exploring evidence for disrespect and abuse in facility-based childbirth. Boston: USAID-TRAction Project, Harvard School of Public Health; 2010.
46. Freedman LP, Kruk ME. Disrespect and abuse of women in childbirth: challenging the global quality and accountability agendas. Lancet. 2014;384(9948):e42–4.
47. Shabot SC, Korem K. Domesticating bodies: the role of shame in obstetric violence. Hypatia. 2018;33(3):384–401.
48. Collins EC, Burns ES, Dahlen HG. ‘It was horrible to watch, horrible to be a part of’: Midwives’ perspectives of obstetric violence. Women Birth. 2024;37(4):101631.
49. Yang HC. Teaching LGBT+ health and gender education to future doctors: Implementation of case-based teaching. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021;18(16):8429.
50. Cheng LF, Yang HC. Learning about gender on campus: An analysis of the hidden curriculum for medical students. Med Educ. 2015;49(3):321-331.
51. Schoene BEF, Oblasser C, Stoll K, Gross MM. Midwifery students witnessing violence during labour and birth and their attitudes towards supporting normal labour: A cross-sectional survey. Midwifery. 2023;119:103626.
52. Cohen R, Leykin D, Golan-Hadari D, Lahad M. Exposure to traumatic events at work, posttraumatic symptoms and professional quality of life among midwives. Midwifery. 2017;50:1-8.
53. Beck CT, Gable RK. A mixed methods study of secondary traumatic stress in labor and delivery nurses. J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs. 2012;41(6):747-760.
54. Leinweber J, Creedy DK, Rowe H, Gamble J. Responses to birth trauma and prevalence of posttraumatic stress among Australian midwives. Women Birth. 2017;30(1):40-45.
55. Eyi EGY, Mollamahmutoglu L. An analysis of the high cesarean section rates in Turkey by Robson classification. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2021;34(16):2682-2692.
56. Leite TH, Marques ES, Mesenburg MA, Freitas da Silveira M, Leal MDC. The effect of obstetric violence during childbirth on breastfeeding: Findings from a perinatal cohort “Birth in Brazil”. Lancet Reg Health Am. 2023;19:100438.
57. Ishola F, Owolabi O, Filippi V. Disrespect and abuse of women during childbirth in Nigeria: A systematic review. PLoS One. 2017;12(3):e0174084.
58. Rubashkin N, Minckas N. How should trainees respond in situations of obstetric violence? AMA J Ethics. 2018;20(1):238-246.
59. Biurrun-Garrido A, Brigidi S, Mena-Tudela D. Perception of health sciences and feminist medical students about obstetric violence. Enferm Clin (Engl Ed). 2023;33(3):234-243.
60. Harrison JD, Logar T, Le P, Glass M. What are the ethical issues facing global-health trainees working overseas? A multi-professional qualitative study. Healthcare (Basel). 2016;4(3):43.
61. Brandão T, Cañadas S, Galvis A, de Los Ríos MM, Meijer M, Falcon K. Childbirth experiences related to obstetric violence in public health units in Quito, Ecuador. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2018;143(1):84-88.
62. Diaz-Tello F. Invisible wounds: Obstetric violence in the United States. Reprod Health Matters. 2016;24(47):56-64.
63. Grilo Diniz CS, Rattner D, Lucas d’Oliveira AFP, de Aguiar JM, Niy DY. Disrespect and abuse in childbirth in Brazil: Social activism, public policies and providers’ training. Reprod Health Matters. 2018;26(53):19-35.
64. Mselle LT, Kohi TW, Dol J. Barriers and facilitators to humanizing birth care in Tanzania: Findings from semi-structured interviews with midwives and obstetricians. Reprod Health. 2018;15(1):137.
65. Sen G, Reddy B, Iyer A. Beyond measurement: The drivers of disrespect and abuse in obstetric care. Reprod Health Matters. 2018;26(53):6-18.

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Psychiatry

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Sercan Mansuroğlu ^*
0000-0001-7562-0843
Türkiye

Ayşegül Unutkan
0000-0002-0311-2177
Türkiye

Publication Date

May 7, 2026

Submission Date

March 20, 2025

Acceptance Date

January 26, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 36 Number: 2026

DOI

https://doi.org/10.54005/geneltip.1662052

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA34KT85DP

APA

Mansuroğlu, S., & Unutkan, A. (2026). IMPROVING MIDWIFERY STUDENTS’ AWARENESS OF OBSTETRIC VIOLENCE: AN ACTION RESEARCH. Genel Tıp Dergisi, 36(2026), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.54005/geneltip.1662052

AMA

1.Mansuroğlu S, Unutkan A. IMPROVING MIDWIFERY STUDENTS’ AWARENESS OF OBSTETRIC VIOLENCE: AN ACTION RESEARCH. Genel Tıp Derg. 2026;36(2026):1-11. doi:10.54005/geneltip.1662052

Chicago

Mansuroğlu, Sercan, and Ayşegül Unutkan. 2026. “IMPROVING MIDWIFERY STUDENTS’ AWARENESS OF OBSTETRIC VIOLENCE: AN ACTION RESEARCH”. Genel Tıp Dergisi 36 (2026): 1-11. https://doi.org/10.54005/geneltip.1662052.

EndNote

Mansuroğlu S, Unutkan A (May 1, 2026) IMPROVING MIDWIFERY STUDENTS’ AWARENESS OF OBSTETRIC VIOLENCE: AN ACTION RESEARCH. Genel Tıp Dergisi 36 2026 1–11.

IEEE

[1]S. Mansuroğlu and A. Unutkan, “IMPROVING MIDWIFERY STUDENTS’ AWARENESS OF OBSTETRIC VIOLENCE: AN ACTION RESEARCH”, Genel Tıp Derg, vol. 36, no. 2026, pp. 1–11, May 2026, doi: 10.54005/geneltip.1662052.

ISNAD

Mansuroğlu, Sercan - Unutkan, Ayşegül. “IMPROVING MIDWIFERY STUDENTS’ AWARENESS OF OBSTETRIC VIOLENCE: AN ACTION RESEARCH”. Genel Tıp Dergisi 36/2026 (May 1, 2026): 1-11. https://doi.org/10.54005/geneltip.1662052.

JAMA

1.Mansuroğlu S, Unutkan A. IMPROVING MIDWIFERY STUDENTS’ AWARENESS OF OBSTETRIC VIOLENCE: AN ACTION RESEARCH. Genel Tıp Derg. 2026;36:1–11.

MLA

Mansuroğlu, Sercan, and Ayşegül Unutkan. “IMPROVING MIDWIFERY STUDENTS’ AWARENESS OF OBSTETRIC VIOLENCE: AN ACTION RESEARCH”. Genel Tıp Dergisi, vol. 36, no. 2026, May 2026, pp. 1-11, doi:10.54005/geneltip.1662052.

Vancouver

1.Sercan Mansuroğlu, Ayşegül Unutkan. IMPROVING MIDWIFERY STUDENTS’ AWARENESS OF OBSTETRIC VIOLENCE: AN ACTION RESEARCH. Genel Tıp Derg. 2026 May 1;36(2026):1-11. doi:10.54005/geneltip.1662052

The Journal of General Medicine is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY NC).

EBELİK ÖĞRENCİLERİNİN OBSTETRİK ŞİDDET FARKINDALIKLARININ ARTIRILMASI: BİR EYLEM ARAŞTIRMASI

Abstract

Keywords

IMPROVING MIDWIFERY STUDENTS' AWARENESS OF OBSTETRIC VIOLENCE: AN ACTION RESEARCH

Abstract

Keywords

Supporting Institution

Ethical Statement

Thanks

References

Details

Primary Language

Subjects

Journal Section

Authors

Publication Date

Submission Date

Acceptance Date

Published in Issue

DOI

IZ

Cite