Widespread Mistreatment of Women During Childbirth in Eastern Europe and Central Asia

Nearly 70% of women surveyed in Eastern Europe and Central Asia have experienced mistreatment during childbirth, according to a new report from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). The study, conducted in partnership with UNFPA and involving over 2,600 women across 16 countries and territories, highlights a significant issue of obstetric violence and disrespectful care within healthcare systems.

Forms of Mistreatment

The report revealed that 67% of respondents reported experiencing at least one form of mistreatment during medical procedures or childbirth. Specific instances of mistreatment included:

• Lack of Informed Consent: Nearly half of the women surveyed (48.1%) underwent medical interventions without their informed consent, including procedures like episiotomy, cesarean sections, and the administration of oxytocin.
• Physical and Sexual Violence: One in ten women reported experiencing physical or sexual violence during childbirth or gynecological examinations.
• Restrictive Practices: 12% of respondents reported being physically restrained, such as being tied to a bed.
• Verbal Abuse: Instances of verbal abuse were also reported, with significant variations across countries.

Regional Variations and Awareness

Awareness of “obstetric violence” varies significantly across the region. More than 53% of survey participants had never heard the term. This lack of awareness was particularly pronounced in Central Asia, with approximately two-thirds of respondents in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan unfamiliar with the concept.

Cultural and social factors, including traditional views on women’s roles and childbirth, may contribute to the limited discussion of mistreatment in these countries.

Specific countries reported higher rates of certain violations. For example:

• Tajikistan: 31.8% of women reported verbal abuse during childbirth, whereas 22.7% reported physical violence.
• Ukraine: 34% of mothers noted low quality of medical care, including violations of privacy and insufficient qualifications of staff.
• Serbia: 19% of surveyed women reported sexual violence.
• Moldova: 16.2% of surveyed women reported sexual violence.

UNFPA’s Response and Call to Action

Florence Bauer, UNFPA Regional Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, emphasized that the findings are a “serious warning signal.” She stated that every woman deserves respectful and high-quality medical care, and that obstetric violence is a human rights violation with potentially long-term health consequences UNFPA.

The report recommends several key actions to address this issue:

• Adoption of appropriate legislation.
• Improved training for medical professionals.
• Increased awareness of women’s rights.
• Establishment of accountability mechanisms.
• Public awareness campaigns.

“Respectful treatment should be the standard, not an additional option in quality medical care,” Bauer concluded. Eliminating systemic barriers is crucial to ensuring safe and dignified conditions for all women during childbirth UNFPA.

About Florence Bauer

Florence Bauer has served as UNFPA’s Regional Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia since July 2022. Throughout her 30-year career, Ms. Bauer has advocated for the rights of children and women, spearheading programs focused on early childhood development, maternal and adolescent health, violence prevention, and sexuality education UNFPA. Prior to UNFPA, she held senior positions with UNICEF, including UNICEF Representative in Brazil (2017-2022), Argentina (2014-2017), and Bosnia and Herzegovina (2009-2014) UNFPA.