The Fate of Obstetric Violence: A Phenomenological Study on the Urgency of Specific Regulation
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54518/rh.6.4.2026.1483Keywords:
Maternal Healthcare, Obstetric Violence, Patient Autonomy, Socio-Legal, Women’s RightsAbstract
Maternal healthcare services may involve practices that affect women’s autonomy, dignity, and rights, while obstetric violence remains insufficiently recognized within the Indonesian legal framework. This research aims to understand women’s experiences in maternal health care and to analyze the urgency of establishing specific regulations regarding obstetric violence, with a focus on Palu City and Sigi Regency, Central Sulawesi. This study employs a qualitative approach combining phenomenological and socio-legal designs. Data were collected through online in-depth interviews and pre-interview questionnaires involving women who had accessed maternal healthcare services and healthcare professionals selected through purposive sampling. Data were analyzed thematically to identify patterns of experience, power relations, and potentially harmful practices, which were then examined within the applicable legal framework. The findings indicate that women experience limited decision-making autonomy, disrespectful communication, and inadequate health information. These experiences reveal a gap between legal principles protecting patient rights and actual healthcare practices. The findings further demonstrate that obstetric violence is influenced not only by individual actions but also by paternalistic healthcare structures. Therefore, specific regulations recognizing obstetric violence are urgently needed to strengthen legal protection, promote women’s autonomy and dignity, and encourage more empathetic, respectful, and rights-based maternal healthcare practices.
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