Obstetric Violence in Spain (Part II): Interventionism and Medicalization during Birth

Background: obstetric violence can partially be represented by the high number of interventions and medicalization rates during the birthing process. The objective of the present study was to determine the interventionism and medicalization levels during childbirth in Spain. Methods: a descriptive, retrospective, and cross-sectional study was conducted between January 2018 and June 2019. Results: the intervention percentages were 34.2% for Kristeller maneuver and 39.3% for episiotomy. Differences appeared in public, private, and mixed healthcare settings (p < 0.001). The mean satisfaction, with healthcare in the different settings, was estimated at 6.88 points (SD +/- 2.146) in public healthcare, 4.76 points (SD +/- 3.968) in private healthcare, and 8.03 points (SD +/- 1.930) in mixed healthcare (p < 0.001). No statistically significant differences were found in Spanish autonomous communities. Conclusions: births in Spain seem to be highly intervened. In this study, a certain equity criterion was found concerning interventionism during childbirth in Spain. Healthcare influenced female intervention, satisfaction, and perception levels for obstetric violence; this evidences that female empowerment plays an important role.

Automated summary

The study revealed that childbirth in Spain is highly intervened with significant differences in intervention rates among different healthcare settings. Satisfaction levels varied between different settings, with mixed healthcare showing the highest satisfaction. Healthcare had an impact on female intervention, satisfaction, and perception levels for obstetric violence, highlighting the importance of female empowerment.