Percepções de profissionais sobre violência obstétrica

Abstract

Background: The present study aims to approach the discussion about obstetric violence (OV) from the discourse analysis of medical and nursing obstetrics professionals in the city of Rio de Janeiro. OV is the appropriation of the woman's body and reproductive processes by health professionals, through dehumanized treatment, abuse of medicalization and pathologization of natural processes, which end up resulting in the loss of the pregnant woman's autonomy and her ability to decide freely about their body and sexuality. Objectives: to analyze and compare the perception that obstetric health professionals have on the subject. To identify differences and similarities in the discourse of nursing and medical professionals about violent practices in childbirth, confirm the use of practices considered harmful in normal childbirth, know the justifications of professionals for the use of harmful practices in childbirth and reflect on differences in the training of obstetric health professionals and their impact on clinical practice. Methodology: a bibliographic survey was carried out on the subject and a semistructured interview script was applied with 4 residents in obstetric nursing and 2 obstetricians. Through the analysis of the transcripts from a socio-anthropological point of view, 3 categories of analysis were defined: definition and practices of VO; training, culture and justifications; restraint of violence. The results and conclusions indicate the maintenance of VO and expose differences in the training of health professionals associated with the identification and prevention of violent practices in the professional routine. And, despite demonstrating limited knowledge and updating on recommended conducts, only nurses maintain the alignment of theory with practice. Even so, both professional categories mainly recognize the most serious actions of OV, but medical professionals continue to do it out of habit or seeking to speed up the work.