The prevalence of obstetric violence against women during pregnancy and after delivery in Syria: a cross-sectional study

Violence against pregnant women has become a public health issue and a violation of human rights. It has been observed in every social, cultural, economic, and religious group. Pregnant victims of violence often describe being choked, scalded, forced out of moving cars, punched, kicked, shoved downstairs, threatened with knives, and having things thrown at them. The WHO statement has highlighted the elimination of obstetric violence toward women during childbirth because it contradicts human rights principles and threatens their right to life, physical, mental, and moral integrity, as well as freedom from discrimination. We aimed to find out how often obstetric violence happens in Syria, what kinds of abuse women face during pregnancy, birth, and after delivery, and which factors are connected to a higher risk of experiencing it. In this cross-sectional study, we publicized an online survey across Syria utilizing official social media platforms, including Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, and Telegram, in order to check how aware women are of obstetric violence, and check out the quality of healthcare provided during delivery in hospitals. The questionnaire was also distributed in public places such as parks and streets in urban and rural areas to check inclusivity and representativeness. The data collection employed both chain-referral sampling and convenience sampling methods. The sample included 1229 women, most of whom were between 26 and 30 years old. There was a significant association between exposure to violence and age, education, and number of pregnancies. Doctors delivered most women (84.8%). (47.2%) were forced into a supine position. (21.6%) experienced discomfort and fear of any word/phrase/behavior mentioned or done by the medical staff, and (22.2%) did not feel private during the childbirth. While only 9.6% of Syrian women perceive they are victims of violence, the actual occurrence of clinical markers (like forced supine position or denial of companions or information) is much higher (95.77%), indicating a normalization of obstetric violence. This baseline study identifies a discrepancy between low self-reported prevalence and the high normalization of obstetric violence in Syria. Statistical correlations with education, age, and parity highlight that mistreatment is socially patterned rather than incidental. Rooted in intersecting institutional and conflict-related pressures, these findings underscore the urgent need for policy reforms prioritizing equity and maternal rights.