Violência obstétrica: experiências de mulheres no Nordeste do Brasil

Abstract

Obstetric violence is a public health problem that, although prevailing in the relationships and dynamics involving pregnancy, childbirth and maternity, has a fragile conceptual demarcation, lacking consensus in the academic environment, especially in Brazil. Given this scenario, this study intended to go to the most refined connections and mediations on the subject. Bring to light the still invisible aspects, the forerunner of obstetric violence. The objectives of this study were to understand the phenomenon of obstetric violence from the experiences of pregnancy and childbirth of women in a capital city in the Northeast of Brazil, inserting in the analysis spaces, devices, subjects and movements that currently produce obstetric violence. The theoretical foundation of the study is based on the socio-historical and analytical construction of the body category, which adds the demarcation of concepts, types and developments of obstetric violence. This is a qualitative research, aligned with the Phenomenological Hermeneutic tradition, developed in Teresina-PI with twelve women who went through the processes of pregnancy, childbirth and birth. For sample delimitation, we considered the concept of information power. The production of information took place through non-directive and in-depth interviews, recorded, carried out in a virtual and electronic way by Google Meet®. The process of organization, processing and interpretation of the empirical material was carried out from the processing and pre-interpretation of the study corpus; pre-analysis; organization and categorization of material; construction of networks of meanings and reinterpretation. The research respected the ethical precepts of studies involving human beings, obtaining approval from the Research Ethics Committee (CEP) of the Federal University of Piauí (UFPI) according to the opinion embodied in CEP nº: 4.416.126. The research results show that women's experiences of pregnancy, childbirth and birth are crossed by elements and characteristics that constitute and sustain obstetric violence in a model of patriarchal society, of medicalization of the woman's body and, of the birth process, which unfold in material processes of violence and aggression from the idealization and conception of pregnancy to the puerperium. Obstetric violence occurs in the established space of maternity, in the academic environment, at home, at work and in virtual social networks. The research showed that there is still a very discrepant power relationship on the part of health professionals over the bodies of pregnant women. However, this power, which results in different types of aggression, is also promoted by people close to the pregnant woman, such as her partners, family, friends and other pregnant women. The commercialization of normal and humanized childbirth also emerges as a unit of analysis that dialogues with the rising process of debates about obstetric violence in our society today. And finally, ambiguous characteristics of the SUS in relation to policies, programs and assistance actions aimed at pregnant women, in labor, delivery and birth. Recognizing that we are dealing with a complex phenomenon requires us to think and act also in the same rationality. Seeking to intervene in the different dimensions and elements that constitute, characterize and sustain obstetric violence in our society.