Table 3

Mistreatment among women with and without a labour companion present at any point during care, N=20 34*

No labour companion present (N=1317)Labour companion present (N=717)Total† (N=2034)
n (%)n (%)n (%)
Any physical abuse, verbal abuse, or stigma and discrimination533 (40.5)280 (39.1)813 (40.0)
Any physical abuse‡189 (14.4)76 (10.6)265 (13.0)
Any verbal abuse447 (33.9)257 (35.8)704 (34.6)
Any stigma and discrimination40 (3.0)28 (3.9)68 (3.3)
Informed consent for procedures
C-section‡121 (9.2)91 (12.7)212 (10.4)
 Non-consented*20 (18.5)10 (12.4)30 (14.2)
Episiotomy*‡¶177 (14.8)103 (19.0)276 (16.1)
 Non-consented*§87 (56.8)42 (44.2)129 (52.0)
Induction of labour‡68 (5.6)105 (17.4)173 (9.5)
 Non-consented*14 (21.9)20 (21.5)34 (21.7)
Any vaginal examination‡1276 (96.9)659 (91.9)1935 (95.1)
 Non-consented‡*701 (55.6)278 (43.1)927 (51.4)
Communication
Woman felt that health workers or staff did not listen and respond to her concerns‡212 (16.3)65 (9.3)277 (13.9)
Neglect and abandonment
Staff member not present when the baby came out§25 (2.1)16 (2.6)41 (2.3)
Woman waited for long periods of time before attended by health workers‡176 (13.4)126 (17.6)302 (14.9)
Woman felt ignored, neglected, or that presence was a nuisance for health workers or staff191 (14.5)121 (17.0)312 (15.4)
Pain relief
Requested pain relief‡278 (21.1)92 (12.9)370 (18.2)
 Did not receive pain relief103 (37.1)33 (35.9)136 (36.8)
  • *Percentages exclude unknowns for each variable.

  • †Total is sample based on Ghana, Guinea and Nigeria.

  • ‡Significant Χ2 at p<0.05.

  • §Marginally significant (p=0.05).

  • ¶Among women with vaginal birth only.