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In maternity wards across India, a disturbing pattern of mistreatment and disrespect towards pregnant women has emerged. While government initiatives aim to promote hospital births, this raises questions about women’s safety and the quality of care in these environments.
Though relatively new to India, a silent crisis of obstetric violence has been garnering significant attention since 2010. It involves women being mistreated during childbirth, facing verbal abuse, unnecessary medical interventions, and violations of privacy.
In 2014, the World Health Organisation laid out guidelines that marked a crucial turning point in addressing this – formally acknowledging the issue and establishing standards for respectful maternity care. Some hospitals in India have failed to take note, however.
Amid a complex web of institutional and cultural factors, many healthcare providers lack specific training on how to offer maternity care respectfully and do not recognise their actions as being violent or disrespectful.
The case of Irawati from Indore is an example of this, which saw her forced to lie exposed in a public ward, subjected to unnecessary examinations, and denied basic dignity.
Reflecting a broader pattern where medical professionals operate within a hierarchical system, practices that traumatise women during their most vulnerable moments are normalised.
The Indian government’s response has been to implement programmes such as LaQshya, which was designed in 2018 to ensure safe and respectful deliveries in public healthcare institutions. Additionally, schemes like Janani Suraksha Yojana and Matru Vandana Yojana are working to increase the number of institutional deliveries.
Yet all of these initiatives have been a challenge to implement, with the medicalization of childbirth viewed as a condition requiring aggressive intervention rather than a natural process.
Combined with commercial interests in the healthcare sector, this often results in unnecessary procedures and a disconnect between policy intentions and on the ground realities.
Looking ahead, a multifaceted approach that integrates comprehensive training for healthcare providers, stronger accountability mechanisms, and a fundamental shift in how medical establishments view childbirth will be key.
As Professor Bijoya Roy from the Center for Women’s Studies notes, bolstering awareness must be rooted in global feminist discourse, as there is a need for both local action and international collaboration to address this critical issue affecting countless women’s lives.
