Perspectives and Experiences of Young Mothers Utilizing Public Healthcare Services in a South African Township

Abstract

The prevalence of disrespectful and abusive care by public healthcare workers toward women during labor has been widely described as a health concern in the continent of Africa. Studies conducted in South Africa have outlined the different forms of abusive care, which include disrespect, neglect as well as abandonment. Research conducted on the mistreatment have focused on matured and married women as it has been assumed that childbearing occurs after marriage. This study placed emphasis on the experiences of young women utilizing public healthcare services during childbirth. Using a qualitative method, the study aimed to shed insights into the experiences of young women utilizing public healthcare services. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 young women aged 20 to 25 years living in a South African township. The study findings were thematically analyzed. The interviews suggest that young women experienced different forms of abusive care including, disrespect, abandonment and lack of privacy. The study recommends that the healthcare system in South Africa should effectively address the causes of abusive care and take appropriate action to ensure accountability and that women receive professional and dignified childbirth experience.

Keywords:

• Young women
• childbirth
• abusive care
• public facility
• township
• South Africa

Acknowledgements

We would like to acknowledge participants for their willingness to contribute to the study.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This work is based on the Doctoral thesis of the first author. The first author would like to acknowledge the National Research Foundation of South Africa for funding her during her first year of study. In addition, the first author would like to acknowledge the National Institute for the Humanities and Social Sciences [grant number SDS17/1103] for funding her during her second and third year of doctoral studies.