Citation

Region & Location

Methodology & Year

Sample characteristics & Data collection time

Women’s experience of facility-based childbirth care and receipt of an early postnatal check for herself and newborn in Northwestern Tanzania [33]

Mara, Kagera region

Health Facilities

Household survey

2016

N = 732 mothers

Most common D&A events reported

Patient experience

Unhappy with privacy (32.9%)

Detained in facility till money is paid (30.9%)

Bedsheet not provided (28.8%)

73.1% of women reported at least 1 D&A event

Respectful Maternity Care

60.1% were offered a choice of birth companion

29.1% were offered choice of birth position

Citation

Region & Location

Methodology & Year

Sample characteristics & Data collection time

Disrespectful and abusive treatment during facility-delivery in Tanzania: a facility and community survey [34]

Tanga region

Health facilities

Health centers

Dispensaries

Questionnaires

2011-2012

N = 1779 women

Exit interview at time of discharge

Follow up community interview within 8 weeks post-delivery discharge (n = 593)

Most common D&A events reported

Patient experience

Shouting/Scolding

(8.71% on exit; 12.18% on follow-up)

Ignored when help needed (7.93% on exit; 12.24% on follow-up)

Threatening/Negative comments

(5.28% on exit; 11.54% on follow-up)

19.48% reported any D&A at exit interview

28.21% reported any D&A at follow up interview

Citation

Region & Location

Methodology & Year

Sample characteristics & Data collection time

Prevalence of disrespect and abuse during facility-based childbirth in urban Tanzania [35]

Dar es Salaam

Large referral hospital

Direct observation and Interviews

2013

Postpartum interview before discharge

N = 1914 women

Community follow-up interview 4 - 6 weeks post-delivery

N = 64 women

Direct observations of labor, delivery, postpartum period

N = 197

Most common D&A events reported

Patient experience

Postpartum

Any form of D&A = 15%

Follow-up

Any form of D&A = 70%

Postpartum

Abandonment (8%)

Non-dignified care (6%)

Physical abuse (5%)

Follow-up

All > 50%

(Except detention and non-consented care)

Observed D&A events

58% of women not covered during delivery

84% of women not asked for consent before examination

One-fifth of women had privacy violated while history taken

84% of women required to share a bed in the postnatal ward

Citation

Region & Location

Methodology & Year

Sample characteristics & Data collection time

Waiting for attention and care: birthing accounts of women in rural Tanzania who developed obstetric fistula as an outcome of labour [29]

Dar es Salaam, Mwanza

Community-based rehabilitation center

Medical center

Mixed methods approach; qualitative study and quantitative survey

2008-2010

Qualitative study N = 16

Quantitative Survey N = 151

While admitted to fistula ward or rehabilitation center

Most common D&A events reported

Patient experience

Abandonment of care

Lack of familial and social support during labor

Undignified care

Poor referral mechanisms: significant delays in the decision to consult doctors or transfer to higher-level facilities

Unnecessary vaginal examinations leaving women in pain

Lack of skilled monitoring of labor progression

Citation

Region & Location

Methodology & Year

Sample characteristics & Data collection time

Humanizing birth in Tanzania: a qualitative study on the (mis) treatment of women during childbirth from the perspective of mothers and fathers [36]

Mwanza and Mara region

Regional referral hospitals

Qualitative descriptive study design

Semi-structured Interviews N = 12

Focus group discussions

N = 4

During postnatal clinic visit

Most common D&A events reported

Patient experience

Verbal abuse

Failure to meet professional standards of care

Poor rapport between mother and providers

Experienced harsh and rude language from providers which discouraged help-seeking behaviors during labor

Unconsented surgical operations, lack of anesthesia for pain management during stitching, neglect, and abandonment of care

Poor communication, lack of provider support, absence of companion during birth

Citation

Region & Location

Methodology & Year

Sample characteristics & Data collection time

Experiences of and responses to disrespectful maternity care and abuse during childbirth; a qualitative study with men and women in Morogoro, Tanzania [37]

Morogoro region

In-depth Interviews

N = 112

Participants included men, women, community health workers, public opinion leaders

Most common D&A events reported

Patient experience

Abandonment of care

Verbal abuse

Inappropriate monetary demands and discriminatory behavior

Participants across the board felt neglected or ignored

Shouting or berating during labor, fear of being slapped or pinched

Citation

Region & Location

Methodology & Year

Sample characteristics & Data collection time

Disrespect and abuse in maternity care: individual consequences of structural violence [23]

Lake Zone

Health Center

Hospital

Observation and Interviews

2015-2017

N = 14 Women

Most common D&A events reported

Patient experiences

Lack of communication between provider and patient

Privacy violations

Verbal abuse

Absence of a welcoming reception

Loss of sense of social identity

Feel unable to voice concerns or question providers without negative consequences

Reprimanded and scolded

Citation

Region & Location

Methodology & Year

Sample characteristics & Data collection time

Eye of the beholder: observation vs self-report in the measurement of D&A during facility-based birth [43]

Tanga region

Hospitals

Observation and Exit questionnaires

2012, 2015

Baseline N = 232 women

End line N = 237 women

Most common D&A events reported

Patient experiences

Prevalence by observer > prevalence reported

Baseline any D&A

Observation = 69.83%

Self-report = 9.91%

End line

Observation = 32.91%

Self-report = 7.59%

Privacy violations not limited to infrastructural restrictions. Non-clinical personnel present in clinical areas.

Threatening to withhold treatment for non-compliant behavior during labor

Ignoring care-seeking behaviors