18/08/2026
Obstetric Violence: The Violence We Have Normalized
We often think violence means hitting or physically hurting someone. But in obstetrics, violence can also be shouting, humiliating, mocking, unnecessary force, non-consented procedures, neglect or violating a woman’s privacy and dignity.
“Tangain seedhi karo, nakhray mat karo.”
“Cannula laganay do, drama kyun kar rahi ho?”
“Chup karo, sab ko dard hota hai.”
For us, these may be routine words during a stressful shift. For a woman in labour, they can become a painful memory for life.
WHO-supported research involving 2,016 women found that 38% experienced high levels of verbal abuse during childbirth, including shouting, scolding and mocking.
And obstetric violence does not end in the labour room.
In the OT, a woman may be awake under spinal anaesthesia—frightened, exposed and vulnerable. We may talk, laugh or make jokes around her as if she cannot hear us.
For us, it may be a routine operation.
For her, it may be the most frightening moment of her life.
Yes, obstetrics is stressful. We face emergencies, overcrowding, staff shortages, long duties and enormous workloads. But urgency does not require humiliation.
We can be firm without being abusive.
We can manage emergencies without shouting.
We can correct without insulting.
We can ask questions without blaming a woman for arriving late.
And we must remember:
The patient did not create our workload.
Before shouting, ask yourself:
Would I speak this way if she were my mother?
What if she can hear me in the OT?
Have I explained before touching her?
Respectful maternity care means protecting a woman’s dignity, privacy, informed choice and freedom from mistreatment. It is not an extra kindness—it is part of quality healthcare.
Let us save lives without breaking spirits.
Let us treat emergencies without losing humanity.
