Dehumanized; Violated; and Powerless: An Australian Survey of Women’s Experiences of Obstetric Violence in the Past 5 Years

This national study explored the experiences of obstetric violence reported in a 2021 survey by Australian women who had a baby in the previous 5 years.

A content analysis of 626 open text comments found 3 main categories: “I felt dehumanised;” “I felt violated;” and “I felt powerless.” Women also reported experiences of bullying; coercion; non-empathic care; and physical and sexual assault.

Content warning: Contains content that may be distressing to readers, including descriptions of physical and sexual assault.

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Author(s): Hazel Keedle, Warren Keedle, Hannah Dahlen
Organisation: Violence Against Women
Year Published: 2022
Language: English

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