Obstetric violence highlighted in new documentary series

A MINI-documentary series, “Push comes to Shove: Stories of Obstetric Violence” aims to shed light on this lesser known but pervasive and prevalent form of gender-based violence.

During 16 Days of Activism against gender-based violence, “Embrace, the movement for mothers” is raising awareness of obstetric violence in South Africa.

Obstetric violence refers to verbal, physical and psychological abuse, humiliation or the denial of healthcare services by health practitioners while accessing healthcare during pregnancy, labour, childbirth or the post-partum period.

Embrace advocacy strategist Nonkululeko Mbuli said obstetric violence can have serious and enduring consequences, and can result in preventable maternal death, neonatal disability, newborn death, postnatal depression, and other perinatal mental health conditions.

“Women and birthing people are targeted by multiple and intersecting forms of marginalisation and discrimination based on race, socio-economic status, immigration and refugee status, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, ethnicity, age and disability, which would explain why some women and birthing people would be more vulnerable to obstetric violence than others,” Mbuli said.

Embrace has partnered with Makhulu for the series, comprising five short films looking at the lived realities of women accessing reproductive healthcare in South Africa.

“Maternity care is where mothers receive the physical and psychological care that will assist them in their first steps towards motherhood.

“Obstetric violence threatens the provision of dignified, rights-based, quality, respectful maternal care and violence committed in reproductive healthcare settings should be considered a serious violation of human rights,” according to Mbuli.

Author Shana Fife is one of the women featured in the documentary. Fife first wrote of her “inhospitable” experience at Groote Schuur Hospital in 2018 in a blogpost, which saw staff neglect both Fife and her newborn baby for several hours, following a Caesarean section.

“Government hospitals are notorious for treating patients poorly. I will never go to a government facility again for as long as I am able to choose. I was even too scared to take my child to a clinic for fear of neglect.”

Fife said even if a service is free or subsidised, the patient is valuable and deserves dignity.

The documentary series will be screened on November 30 at Bowmans in Sandton, and on December 8, at the Desmond and Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation, Cape Town. Tickets are free, however, online registration will be required.