South Africa: Childbirth Abuse is Rife. So Why Don't We See It?

What the report says

A Bhekisisa report published by AllAfrica says an estimated 1.79 million women who gave birth in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng over the past 10 years experienced abuse or disrespect during labour. The survey, conducted by Social Surveys Africa and commissioned by the DG Murray Trust and Embrace, suggests that about 490 women were mistreated each day in those two provinces. The article says only 34% of those affected recognized the treatment as wrong, and just 7% reported it.

The story places the findings in the context of South Africa’s public maternity care system and longstanding concerns about obstetric violence. It notes that women described physical, verbal and emotional abuse, including being slapped, shouted at, ignored or examined roughly. The report also says many women were not allowed a support person during birth, and that privacy was often lacking in wards. Bhekisisa says the two provinces are densely populated and include both urban and rural health settings, making the survey a useful indicator of broader conditions.

The article also reports on a planned online course on respectful maternity care, due to launch on 22 September on the health department’s Knowledge Hub platform. According to the piece, officials want to make the training compulsory for staff working with pregnant women. Advocates quoted in the report argue that better leadership and accountability are needed to prevent abuse and rebuild trust in maternity services.