Obstetric violence and its associated factors during childbirth among immediate postpartum women at Debre Markos Town public health facilities, Ethiopia, 2024

Ensuring respectful and dignified care during childbirth is a key component of improving maternal health outcomes. However, many women around the world, including in Ethiopia, experience mistreatment during childbirth, commonly referred to as obstetric violence. Obstetric violence is a critical public health concern that involves abusive or dehumanizing treatment of women during pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period. Despite some studies conducted in Ethiopia, the information related to the magnitude and associated factors of obstetric violence during childbirth in the study setting is limited. To assess the magnitude of obstetric violence and its associated factors among immediate postpartum women, at Debre Markos town public health facilities, Ethiopia, 2024. An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 494 immediate postpartum women using a systematic random sampling technique. Data were collected via a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire. Data were entered using Epi-Data Version 4.6 and transferred to SPSS Version 25 for analysis. Descriptive statistical analysis was computed to describe related variables. Bi-variable analysis was used to screen candidate variables for multivariable analysis, with p-values ≤ 0.25. Finally, in the multivariable analysis, p-values of 0.05 were used to identify the significant predictors of obstetric violence. Model fitness was assessed using the Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test, with a p-value of 0.89. Results were displayed in text, tables, and figures. In this study, the magnitude of obstetric violence was 70.2% (95% CI; 66.1, 74.3). Number of birth attendant (1, 2) (AOR = 2.87; 95% CI: 1.90, 4.40), male sex of healthcare provider (AOR = 4.03; 95% CI: 2.42, 6.69), female sex of healthcare provider (AOR = 4.79; 95% CI: 2.92, 7.86), and absence of private room (AOR = 1.81; 95% CI: 1.12, 3.31) were associated with increased odds of obstetric violence. On the other hand, lower parity (1–3) (AOR = 0.502; 95% CI: 0.271, 0.929) was associated with reduced odds of obstetric violence. Seven in ten women experienced obstetric violence. Number of birth attendants (1, 2), male sex healthcare provider, female sex healthcare provider, and absence of private room were factors associated with increased odds of obstetric violence, while lower parity [1–3] was associated with reduced odds. Healthcare organizations and healthcare providers focus on providing respectful and dignified care to tackle obstetric violence, which improves maternal and child health outcomes in the country.