Study of Women’s Experiences with Obstetric Violence in Public Hospitals in Edo State

Obstetric violence, encompassing disrespectful and abusive treatment during childbirth in health facilities, is an intersecting gender rights and public health issue that deters facility-based delivery and undermines maternal health outcomes. This study examines women's experiences of obstetric violence in public hospitals in Edo State, focusing on facilities in Benin City, Usen, and Abudu. A cross-sectional descriptive survey was adopted, with 220 women who had recently delivered in public facilities completing structured questionnaires adapted from the WHO mistreatment during childbirth measurement framework. Data were analysed using frequency distributions, chi-square tests, and descriptive statistics. Findings reveal that 61% of respondents experienced at least one form of obstetric violence, with verbal abuse (48%), physical mistreatment (23%), withholding of pain relief (31%), and lack of informed consent for procedures (38%) being the most commonly reported forms. Women without formal education and those attending without a companion are significantly more likely to report mistreatment. Most women do not report incidents due to fear of poor care on future visits. Recommendations include mandatory respectful maternity care training for health workers, establishment of patient feedback mechanisms, and integration of respectful care standards into hospital accreditation criteria. Keywords: obstetric violence, maternal health, public hospitals, Edo State, gender rights