Perception of obstetric violence in a sample of Spanish health sciences students: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background: Obstetric violence is a problem that has grown worldwide, and a particularly worrying one in Spain. Such violence has repercussions for women, and for the professionals who cause them. Preventing this problem seems fundamental.

Objective: This study evaluated how health sciences students perceived obstetric violence.

Design: A cross-sectional study conducted between October 2019 and November 2020.

Participants: A sample of Spanish health sciences students studying degrees of nursing, medicine, midwifery, and psychology.

Methods: A validated questionnaire was used: Perception of Obstetric Violence in Students (PercOV-S). Socio-demographic and control variables were included. A descriptive and comparative multivariate analysis was performed with the obtained data.

Results: 540 questionnaires were completed with an overall mean score of 3.83 points (SD ± 0.63), with 2.83 points (SD ± 0.91) on the protocolised-visible dimension and 4.15 points (SD ± 0.67) on the non-protocolised-invisible obstetric violence dimension. Statistically significant differences were obtained for degree studied (p < 0.001), gender (p < 0.001), experience (p < 0.001), ethnic group (p < 0.001), the obstetric violence concept (p < 0.001) and academic year (p < 0.005). There were three significant multivariate models for the questionnaire's overall score and dimensions.

Conclusions: Health sciences students perceived obstetric violence mainly as non-protocolised aspects while attending women. Degree studied and academic year might be related to perceived obstetric violence.