Matern Health Neonatol Perinatol. 2026 Jul 6;12(1):30. doi: 10.1186/s40748-026-00275-6.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Mistreatment during childbirth remains a barrier to maternal health in low-resource settings.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of mistreatment during childbirth and its associated factors among women in public health facilities of Ilubabor Zone, Southwest Ethiopia, 2025.
METHODS: A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted from August to October 2025 among 470 women using multistage sampling and interviewer-administered questionnaires. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression.
RESULTS: Mistreatment during childbirth was reported by 68.1% (95% CI: 63.9-72.3%) of women. Verbal insults, denial of mobility during labor, refusal of pain relief, and lack of consent for procedures were the most common forms. Significant factors included low maternal education (AOR = 7.10, 95% CI: 3.71-13.58), observed provider burnout (AOR = 3.30, 95% CI: 2.14-5.10), and high provider workload (AOR = 2.70, 95% CI: 1.80-4.06).
CONCLUSION: High prevalence of mistreatment was observed, driven by low maternal education and multiple provider- and system-level factors. Enhanced training, staffing, and community education are urgently needed.
PMID:42402616 | DOI:10.1186/s40748-026-00275-6
