Atenção ao parto e nascimento em Manaus: um olhar para as denúncias de Violência Obstétrica registradas pelo Humaniza Coletivo Feminista

Abstract

This research assumes the purpose of carrying out a study on childbirth and birth care in the city of Manaus, based on the complaints registered by the Humaniza Coletivo Feminista, a non-governmental organization of women that promotes the confrontation of obstetric violence in the Amazon. Obstetric violence is one of the expressions of violence against women, based on the patriarchal system and gender inequalities. It is a set of actions practiced mainly by health professionals, in the context of childbirth and birth care, which harm the integrity of women, and can also affect the baby, the companion and the family. Over the last decade, there has been an effort, mainly on the part of women's movements, to carry out debates and studies on the subject, to outline coping strategies. In Amazonas, the first women's association dedicated to fighting for violence-free delivery and birth care began in 2014. Currently called Humaniza Coletivo Feminista, the organization is a channel for receiving and forwarding complaints. The methodological conduct of this research assumed the orientations of qualitative approaches, without disregarding the quantitative aspects, under the contribution of gender theories and their context in the scope of Applied Social Sciences.The technical procedures used in the collection of empirical data were carried out in a semi-structured interview with a sample of 03 women, 02 representatives of social movements and 01 researcher on the subject of obstetric violence. Secondary data comprised a sample of 15 reports of obstetric violence registered with the Humaniza Coletivo Feminista. The investigation revealed the existence and recurrence of obstetric violence in public and private maternity hospitals in Manaus. This violence is related to the social position of women in a sexist and patriarchal society, with the aggravating factor that, within the scope of health institutions, pregnant and postpartum women are susceptible to interventions not based on scientific evidence, practiced arbitrarily. , privileging the interests of professionals. It must be recognized, however, that the State of Amazonas has presented pioneering strategies in the fight against obstetric violence, with the significant participation of Humaniza Coletivo Feminista, which contributes to give visibility to the theme.