Childbirth outcomes in rape-related pregnancies: a comparative study of women receiving care in a birthing room designed to promote person-centredness in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo
Background There is limited knowledge regarding childbirth outcomes among women with pregnancies resulting from rape. At Panzi Hospital, a tertiary hospital in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a holistic care programme is provided for survivors of sexual violence. Objective Explore childb...
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Taylor & Francis Group
2025-12-01
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| Series: | Global Health Action |
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| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/16549716.2025.2541535 |
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| author | Urban Berg Emile Mapatano Maria Hogenäs Marie Berg |
| author_facet | Urban Berg Emile Mapatano Maria Hogenäs Marie Berg |
| author_sort | Urban Berg |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background There is limited knowledge regarding childbirth outcomes among women with pregnancies resulting from rape. At Panzi Hospital, a tertiary hospital in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a holistic care programme is provided for survivors of sexual violence. Objective Explore childbirth outcomes among women classified as Robson Group 1 who received care in a birthing room designed to promote person-centredness, comparing those with rape-related pregnancies to other women. Methods This study was conducted between March 2021 and July 2022, with consecutive collection of childbirth data from nulliparous women at term with a single foetus in cephalic presentation and spontaneous onset of labour, i.e. Robson Group 1. All participants received care in a new birthing room designed to promote person-centredness. Childbirth outcomes were compared between women with rape-related pregnancies (n = 159) and those without (n = 302). Results No statistically significant differences in childbirth outcomes were observed. Among women with rape-related pregnancies, 81.8% had vaginal births, compared to 83.4% in the comparison group. Caesarean section rates were 18.2% and 16.6%, respectively. The childbirth experience was rated positively by 80.5% of women in the rape-related pregnancy group and 84.8% in the comparison group with scores of 8–10 on the modified Visual Analogue Scale for Overall Childbirth Experience (VAS-OCE, 0–10). Conclusions Childbirth outcomes among women with rape-related pregnancies receiving care within a holistic programme were comparable to those of other pregnant women, when care was provided in a birthing room designed to promote person-centred care. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-93e6f72bd6bd4c21bfe752c74ab347cc |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1654-9880 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-12-01 |
| publisher | Taylor & Francis Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Global Health Action |
| spelling | doaj-art-93e6f72bd6bd4c21bfe752c74ab347cc2025-08-20T03:44:03ZengTaylor & Francis GroupGlobal Health Action1654-98802025-12-0118110.1080/16549716.2025.25415352541535Childbirth outcomes in rape-related pregnancies: a comparative study of women receiving care in a birthing room designed to promote person-centredness in eastern Democratic Republic of CongoUrban Berg0Emile Mapatano1Maria Hogenäs2Marie Berg3University of GothenburgEvangelical University in AfricaPanzi General Referral HospitalEvangelical University in AfricaBackground There is limited knowledge regarding childbirth outcomes among women with pregnancies resulting from rape. At Panzi Hospital, a tertiary hospital in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a holistic care programme is provided for survivors of sexual violence. Objective Explore childbirth outcomes among women classified as Robson Group 1 who received care in a birthing room designed to promote person-centredness, comparing those with rape-related pregnancies to other women. Methods This study was conducted between March 2021 and July 2022, with consecutive collection of childbirth data from nulliparous women at term with a single foetus in cephalic presentation and spontaneous onset of labour, i.e. Robson Group 1. All participants received care in a new birthing room designed to promote person-centredness. Childbirth outcomes were compared between women with rape-related pregnancies (n = 159) and those without (n = 302). Results No statistically significant differences in childbirth outcomes were observed. Among women with rape-related pregnancies, 81.8% had vaginal births, compared to 83.4% in the comparison group. Caesarean section rates were 18.2% and 16.6%, respectively. The childbirth experience was rated positively by 80.5% of women in the rape-related pregnancy group and 84.8% in the comparison group with scores of 8–10 on the modified Visual Analogue Scale for Overall Childbirth Experience (VAS-OCE, 0–10). Conclusions Childbirth outcomes among women with rape-related pregnancies receiving care within a holistic programme were comparable to those of other pregnant women, when care was provided in a birthing room designed to promote person-centred care.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/16549716.2025.2541535pregnancy after rapeobstetric outcomesneonatal outcomeschildbirth experiencebirth environment |
| spellingShingle | Urban Berg Emile Mapatano Maria Hogenäs Marie Berg Childbirth outcomes in rape-related pregnancies: a comparative study of women receiving care in a birthing room designed to promote person-centredness in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo Global Health Action pregnancy after rape obstetric outcomes neonatal outcomes childbirth experience birth environment |
| title | Childbirth outcomes in rape-related pregnancies: a comparative study of women receiving care in a birthing room designed to promote person-centredness in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo |
| title_full | Childbirth outcomes in rape-related pregnancies: a comparative study of women receiving care in a birthing room designed to promote person-centredness in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo |
| title_fullStr | Childbirth outcomes in rape-related pregnancies: a comparative study of women receiving care in a birthing room designed to promote person-centredness in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo |
| title_full_unstemmed | Childbirth outcomes in rape-related pregnancies: a comparative study of women receiving care in a birthing room designed to promote person-centredness in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo |
| title_short | Childbirth outcomes in rape-related pregnancies: a comparative study of women receiving care in a birthing room designed to promote person-centredness in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo |
| title_sort | childbirth outcomes in rape related pregnancies a comparative study of women receiving care in a birthing room designed to promote person centredness in eastern democratic republic of congo |
| topic | pregnancy after rape obstetric outcomes neonatal outcomes childbirth experience birth environment |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/16549716.2025.2541535 |
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