HANDS-ON Experience Learning November 2024 | Issue 28
OPPORTUNITY
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Stop nutritional Build simple, stunting of young children. loving connections for every child
SPOTLIGHT ON OBSTETRIC VIOLENCE: BUILDING A COMPELLING ARGUMENT FOR SOCIAL CHANGE Obstetric violence (OV) refers to rights violations and abuses experienced by pregnant women and birthing people1 while accessing healthcare during pregnancy, labour, childbirth and in the postpartum period. This form of gender-based violence presents a significant threat to the global health of women and children. Embrace, South Africa’s first social movement for supported and celebrated motherhood, believes that the key to ending obstetric violence lies in elevating the voices and experiences of mothers. Even though several organisations have been working to highlight the prevalence and impact of obstetric violence, this issue was not part of mainstream discourse until recently.
This learning brief looks at Embrace’s efforts to influence national maternity care policy, raising awareness about the prevalence of obstetric violence, and the urgent need for respectful maternity care in South Africa.
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Embrace acknowledges that not all pregnant people identify as women, hence the use of inclusive language to recognise transgender and nonbinary persons who are also affected by obstetric violence.
SPOTLIGHT ON OBSTETRIC VIOLENCE: BUILDING A COMPELLING ARGUMENT FOR SOCIAL CHANGE
Issue 28 /// November 2024