Abuse of pregnant women during maternity violates rights – Expert

Olubunmi Lawal, the President of the Paediatric Nurses Association of Nigeria, on Friday says disrespect and abuse of pregnant women during maternity care is a violation of women’s rights.
Lawal said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja.
She said universal rights of child bearing women was an important period and recognised in every country and community worldwide.
According to her, pregnancy and childbirth are significant events in the lives of women and families, which also represent a time of intense vulnerability.
Lawal said: “The concept of safe motherhood is usually restricted to physical safety with deep personal and cultural significance for a woman and her family.
“Beyond motherhood, issues of gender equity and violence are also at the core of maternity care.”
Lawal stated that the notion of safe motherhood must be expanded beyond the prevention of morbidity or mortality to encompass respect for women’s basic human rights.
According to her, motherhood deserves respect for dignity, feelings, choices, autonomy, preferences as well as the choice of companionship.
She said a woman’s relationship with maternity care providers and maternity care system during pregnancy and childbirth was crucial for essential lifesaving services.
Lawal said: “Women’s experiences with caregivers at this time have the impact to empower and comfort or to inflict lasting damage and emotional trauma on their confidence and self‐esteem.
“However, women’s memories of their childbearing experiences stay with them for a lifetime and are often shared with other women, contributing to a climate of confidence or doubt around childbearing.”
Lawal said every child bearing woman expects care, empathy, support, trust and effective communication to enable informed decisions from a maternity care provider entrusted to her.
Lawal urged for special care to protect mothers, babies and highly vulnerable women, including adolescents, ethnic minorities and women living with any form of disabilities.
She added that Universal Rights of Childbearing Women are fundamental entitlements due to all people and recognised by societies and governments.
She said some rights of child bearing women of disrespect and abuse identified by Bowser and Hill, 2010 include: “Freedom from physical abuse, verbal abuse, harm and ill treatment; abandonment or denial to timely healthcare.
“Right to information and respect for choices and preferences, including the right to companionship of choice wherever possible.
“Dignity, respect and receiving maternity care before, during and after child birth.”
NAN.