Trabalho, Educação e Saúde - TES (Work, Education and Health) is an open access scientific journal, edited by the Joaquim Venâncio Polytechnic School of Health, from Oswaldo Cruz Foundation.
This article aims to analyze an unexpected by-product found in the master’s dissertation research entitled
The color of obstetric violence. Among the data collected in the interviews, it was noteworthy that 86% of white women could have a companion of their own choice at some point during hospitalization for childbirth. Among the black women interviewed, only 33% were authorized to exercise this same right guaranteed by Law No. 11,108 of 2005. The justification used by the health services for women who were denied the right to a companion was the implementation of control and prevention protocols in regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. In maternity hospitals where these pregnant women were hospitalized for childbirth, there was no unrestricted prohibition on the presence of a companion during hospitalization.
Institutions analyzed case by case. This subjective evaluation, without defined criteria, showed a racial bias in selectivity. These violations of the rights of parturient women can be characterized as obstetric racism.
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