Research shows that up to 50 percent of all mothers experienced violence by doctors and midwives during the birth of their child. The range extends from derogatory comments to physical attacks. Krone+ explores the subject in a three-part series.
In 2023, 77,296 births were registered in Austria. No statistics show how many of these involved one or more experiences of violence. However, it is a global problem on a large scale. In Germany, for example, it is believed that approximately every second woman experiences verbal or physical violence during childbirth. In the US, 17 percent of women who gave birth reported experiencing it.
There are no figures for Austria, the subject is taboo. But we have one thing in common with the other countries mentioned: childbirth usually takes place in a hospital and under medical supervision. This means that the majority of children in Austria are born in hospitals. In 2022, this was 98.1 percent, according to the Austrian Statistical Office.
The hospital: a safe place?
Many women feel safest in the hospital because they have all the options to intervene quickly in an emergency. There is access to painkillers and a caesarean section can be performed if necessary. And if the child needs medical attention after birth, it is taken to the neonatal department.
These were also the thoughts of Anna, 27 years old, from Lower Austria. She would like to talk about her ordeal anonymously. “I never expected what would happen to me in the hospital,” she says.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
