What Is Obstetric Violence?

• 48.1% of women reported procedures carried out without consent: caesarean sections, episiotomies, the administration of oxytocin, and the traumatic Kristeller manoeuvre — banned in many countries — in which a member of staff presses on the abdomen to force the baby out;

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• 47.4% of women reported inadequate communication from medical staff: pressure to consent to or refuse procedures, and a lack of information about them;

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• 24% of women experienced threats, rudeness, or humiliation;

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• 12% of women were physically restrained during childbirth, sometimes strapped to the bed;

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• 10.4% of women encountered sexual harassment from medical staff.

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These figures are likely underestimates, as only 2% of women reported obstetric violence officially.

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Unfortunately, society and the healthcare system still harbour deeply embedded notions that certain treatment of pregnant women and those giving birth is normal. You may have heard it said that childbirth is a natural process for women — and therefore an easy one; that women used to give birth in fields or at home, without advanced medicine, and everything was supposedly fine. To this is often added the stereotype that women supposedly have a higher pain threshold, that their bodies are somehow “designed” to endure suffering.

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It is worth noting that this is a stereotype: women do not cope with pain better — in some cases, they actually cope worse than men.**

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Firstly, obstetric violence can pose a threat to patients' lives and health. Rough handling, ignored complaints, or poorly performed operations can result in serious tears, vaginal haematomas, or extensive haemorrhages — with long-term consequences including problems with urination and sexual life. If a procedure is performed without medical indication, it can lead to complications and slow postpartum recovery. Sometimes doctors perform not only unnecessary but outright harmful operations. The so-called “husband stitch,” for instance, is theoretically intended to improve sexual satisfaction — but in reality causes pain and discomfort for the woman.

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Secondly, obstetric violence carries serious psychological consequences. When a patient's experience is roughly disregarded and her autonomy violated, it creates the feeling that her own body does not belong to her. This is a traumatic experience that does not always resolve and can leave a lifelong mark — particularly given that the violence occurred at an extraordinarily vulnerable moment. Statistically, 1 in 10 patients ends up with PTSD following childbirth.*** Obstetric violence can also increase the risk of postpartum depression.****

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Furthermore, violence has consequences for society as a whole. Traumatisation leads to deeper social isolation of mothers and contributes to a general climate of fear and stigma around childbirth. Some women, after what they have been through, choose not to plan further children — even if they previously wanted to. For a government genuinely seeking to improve birth rates rather than resorting to populist quick fixes, the systematic combating of obstetric violence must be a priority.

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What Can You Do If You Have Experienced Obstetric Violence?

 

Remember that you have rights enshrined in Ukrainian legislation. In particular, you have the right to:

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• choose your maternity hospital and doctor independently, or request a replacement;

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• psychologically prepare for childbirth;

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• receive information about your condition and your child's condition, and about all procedures that will be performed;

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• bring a support person to the birth — not only a partner, but a mother, sister, or friend (subject to prior arrangement with the facility);

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• have an individual delivery room;

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• demedicalisaton of labour — all medications must be administered only when medically indicated and with your consent;

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• freedom of movement during labour, including giving birth in a position of your own choosing;

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• breastfeed your baby (provided you do not have active tuberculosis or HIV/AIDS) and receive support from qualified specialists;

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• see your stillborn child;

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• have private time with your baby in the ward.

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If your rights are being violated, you have several options. Legally, you are considered a patient and have the right to complain about inadequate medical services and seek compensation, just like any other visitor to a medical institution.

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• If you have sustained serious physical injuries during childbirth, you should file a report with the police.

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• If you have experienced negligence, humiliation, discrimination, or injuries not considered serious, you can file a complaint with the chief physician of the facility where the birth took place — by letter or email.

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• You can also contact the health department of your city or region. Contact details can be found at: https://moz.gov.ua/uk/regionalni-upravlinnja

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• There is also the option of filing a complaint with the National Health Service of Ukraine (NHSU) or the Ministry of Health.

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• If you are unable to resolve the matter at these levels, you have the right to go to court. If possible, consult a lawyer who specialises in medical matters and women's rights during childbirth.

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* Shouts, insults or 'squeezing out' the baby: 67% of women surveyed by the UN experienced obstetric violence. Ukrainska Pravda. Zhyttia, 2026. — https://life.pravda.com.ua/society/1-z-10-zhinok-zaznala-nasilstva-pid-chas-pologiv-zvit-oon-313827/

** Who's more sensitive to pain, men or women? The answer may surprise you. The Washington Post, 2025. — https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2025/09/17/chronic-pain-women/

*** Birth Trauma. Cleveland Clinic, 2024. — https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/birth-trauma

**** Kohan, S., Mena-Tudela, D. & Youseflu, S. The impact of obstetric violence on postpartum quality of life through psychological pathways. Sci Rep 15, 4799 (2025). — https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-88708-8