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 | 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 |