Over 1 in 8 report mistreatment during childbirth

April 12, 2024

Source: Liu, et al JAMA Network Open, April 4, 2024 LINK  “Whisker” line represents confidence interval , so for instance the reported rate of physical abuse is about 0.29%, based on sample size we can be 90% confident that in a much larger sample the result would be between 0.15% and 0.61%.

Researchers surveyed all those who delivered live infants in six states (KS, MI, NJ, PA, UT and VA) and New York City during 2020 at least a year later to ask them about how they were treated during their childbirth admission. They published their findings last week in JAMA Network Open. The survey asked about physical abuse, verbal abuse (shouted at or scolded, or threatened), neglect, abandonment, lack of informed consent, and breach of confidentiality.

The survey found that 13.4% of 4598 respondents reported that they had been mistreated during delivery. The graph below shows groups where reporting mistreatment was statistically significantly higher than the average rate of reporting mistreatment. Black people reported mistreatment more frequently than White people, but this did not reach statistical significance.

Source: Liu, et al JAMA Network Open, April 4, 2024 LINK  This means that LGBTQ birthing people were 2.3 times as likely to report mistreatment compared to the average birthing person. Births before COVID were Jan-March, and births during the pandemic emergency were April-December, 2020.

The survey had an excellent response rate (75%) and was offered in English and Spanish to increase inclusivity. 

Implications for employers

-        This study shows that many feel that they were mistreated during childbirth.

-        LGBTQ people, those with substance use disorder, and those who reported intimate partner or family violence were most likely to report mistreatment.

-        Doulas may help patients feel more of a sense of control during delivery. Doulas could be especially important for the groups which reported the most mistreatment.

Employers can ask their medical carriers what they are doing to document and address patients’ perception of mistreatment during delivery.

Thanks for reading.  You can find previous posts in the Employer Coverage archive

Please subscribe, “like” and suggest this newsletter to friends and colleagues. Thanks!

Monday: Doctors take (a lot) of money from industry