Abstract:
Background: Disrespect and abuse is any form of inhuman treatment or uncaring behavior
toward a woman during labor and delivery. Although it has been documented throughout the
world and a deterrent to utilization of facility based childbirth, which results in high maternal
morbidities and mortalities. In Ethiopia there is little known about disrespect and abuse among
women during child birth. To the status of knowledge of the investigator no studies on the
subject have been done in Hadiya Zone and also attention has not given for compassionate and
respectful care in both research and practices.
Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the status and associated factors of disrespect
and abuse among women during facility-based childbirth at three Public Hospitals, Hadiya
Zone, Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples' Region, Ethiopia.
Methods: A hospital based cross-sectional study was conducted from March 11 to April 11,
2019 at three public hospitals. Data collection instrument was used by face to face
interviewing of women who were just have given birth in the hospitals at the time of discharge
from postnatal ward. The total study participants for this study were 541 as final sample size.
The data were entered in to Epi-data version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 24.0 for further
processing and analysis. Logistic regression analyses were used to identify factors associated
with disrespect and abuse.
Results: The status of disrespect and abuse among women was 69.3%, 95% CI: (65.4%-73.2%). No
formal education [(AOR= 2.6, 95% CI: (1.23-5.808)] ANC follow up [(AOR= 2.6, 95%CI: (1.3-
5.2)], long stay in health facility after delivery [(AOR= 3.7, 95%CI: (1.5-9.09)] and low income
[(AOR= 2.26, 95%CI: (1.2-4.2)] were significantly associated with disrespect and abuse.
Conclusion: This study indicated that status of disrespect and abuse among women during child
birth was 69.3%. Disrespect and abuse among women with no formal education, no ANC follow-up,
low family income and length of stay in health facility were significantly associated factors.
Stakeholders and health professionals to focus on implemntation of compassionate and respectful
care for pregnant mothrs on ANC follow up and who give birth on health facility
