The Hill: 4 ways to end the abuse of women during childbirth
Ifeanyi M. Nsofor, CEO of EpiAFRIC, director of policy and advocacy at Nigeria Health Watch, and 2019 Atlantic Fellow for Health Equity at George Washington University

“…[According to the findings of a new study published by The Lancet, o]ne third of new mothers report abuse during childbirth in Ghana, Guinea, Myanmar, and Nigeria, including 35 percent who experienced physical abuse; 75 percent who faced surgical enlargement of the vagina to ease delivery without their consent; 56 percent who did not consent to a caesarean section and 5 percent of women and their babies who were detained in the health facilities because of inability to pay their bills. … The mistreatment of women during childbirth must end, and these are strategies that can help. First, train all doctors and midwives on respectful maternity care. … Second, use technology to empower women and their families to report cases of abuse and rate the quality of care received in health facilities. … Third, improve the social status of women by ensuring all girls are in school and women are economically empowered. … Lastly, when cases of abuse of women during childbirth are reported, health regulatory agencies must investigate and enforce penalties…” (10/27).