Obstetrical and gynecological violence is a relatively new notion in Moldova. A survey conducted by the Center “Partnership for Development” (CPD) shows that 60% of the questioned women do not know the given term. However, the phenomenon is often met in Moldova as the same poll shows that half of the women who gave birth experienced at least one form of obstetrical and gynecological violence, namely verbal or physical abuse, negligent treatment or impolite language on the part of medical personnel that assisted them during delivery, IPN reports.
The CPD published the first national study of obstetrical and gynecological violence in the Republic of Moldova. According to the study, obstetrical and gynecological violence takes place when the medical personnel take action that is not justified from medical viewpoint or is not accepted by patients.
“Even if sexual and reproductive health has been in the focus of the national and international public authorities the last few years, the phenomenon of obstetrical and gynecological violence was put on the public agenda only several years ago. Any woman can be the victim of obstetrical and gynecological violence because this phenomenon does not have a social or financial status,” said the representative of CPD Alina Andronache.
The poll shows that even if many women do not know what obstetrical and gynecological violence is, this phenomenon is often met in national medical institutions. “60% of the women never heard this term - obstetrical and gynecological violence. 39% of the women said that they heard this notion at least once. The women from rural areas, with secondary education, who gave birth mainly in public maternity hospitals in district centers, constitute the largest part of the women who didn’t hear this term. 66% of the women consider obstetrical and gynecological violence is met frequently,” said CPD representative Alexandra Yermolenko.
“Half of the women who gave birth experienced at least one form of obstetrical and gynecological violence, such as psychological violence, physical abuse, sexual abuse or maneuvers to which the women didn’t consent. The women during delivery were subject to different levels of bad treatment. The survey data show that 34% of the women were subject to at least one obstetrical maneuver to which they didn’t consent or were subject to inappropriate treatment by medical personnel. One third of the women mentioned humiliating or even abusive practices when they interacted with the doctor or medical personnel that offered them assistance during delivery,” said CPD representative Natalia Covrig.
Obstetrical and gynecological violence can take different forms, including the medical personnel’s refusal to provide care, ignoring of the needs and pain of women, verbal abuse, physical violence, unreasonable use of medicines, forced medical procedures and dehumanized and impolite treatment.
The survey covered a sample of 809 Moldovan women aged between 18 and 45, who have at least one child younger than six. The poll was carried out by the Center “Partnership for Development” in cooperation with the Analyses and Investigations Center “Civis”.
