Womens Experience on Disrespect and Abuse during Childbirth at Two Referral Hospitals in Sudan 2019

Background: Disrespect and abuse during childbirth is a public health problem in many developing countries, however, little is known about it in Sudan. Objectives: To study womens experience on disrespect and abuse during childbirth and its effect on future hospital childbirth at two referral hospitals in Sudan 2019. Methodology: This is a descriptive, cohort, hospital based study, conducted at two referral hospitals in different states, 300-600 kilometers from Khartoum the capital of Sudan during 2019. All women who delivered vaginally in these two hospitals were included in the study after an informed consent. Data was collected by trained data collectors using a modified structured format and analyzed using SPSS version 22.0. Results: A total of 2204 women were included in the study; their socio demographic characteristics were almost similar in both hospitals. Out of them; 1232 (55.9 %) in the age group 21-39 years, 1452 (65.9 %) were multiparous, 1214 (55.1 %) from rural, 1498 (68.0 %) of low socio-economic, and 454 (20.6 %) were illiterate (table 1). In this study; a total of 864 (39.2 %) reported at least one type of disrespect and abuse. Only 2.5 % were treated without permission, 3.8 % left unattended by health care providers (HCP), 11.3 % and 17.8 % experienced physical and verbal abuse respectively. Shouting at were 26.5 %, labour was not attended by a relative in 60.3 %, treatment violated confidentiality and privacy were 23.6 %, and 26.0 % respectively (table 4). Only 10.8 % were dissatisfied from hospital service and 9.5 % will not choose hospital for childbirth in future. Conclusion: Disrespect and abuse frequently occurs in these hospitals, but is not a main barrier for institutional childbirth. In- service training of HCP on respectful maternity care and empowering women for their rights to be treated with dignity and respect is important to eliminate disrespect and abuse during childbirth.