Obstetric violence from an intersectional perspective
narrative review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.47456/rbps.v27isupl_2.48420Keywords:
Obstetric violence, Intersectionality, Institutional racismAbstract
Introduction: Obstetric violence is a public health issue, and deepening the study of this phenomenon is one of the paths to addressing it. It consists of a dehumanized appropriation of women's bodies and reproductive processes by health professionals. However, the experience and consequences of this type of violence do not affect all women equally. Objective: To understand obstetric violence against Black women through an intersectional approach, considering that intersectionality involves the interaction of two or more axes of subordination/discrimination, such as racism, patriarchy, and social inequality. Methods: A narrative literature review was conducted by analyzing articles published in scientific databases over the last 10 years that addressed this topic. Results: The research found that Black women are the primary victims of obstetric violence, and the intersectional analysis was essential to understand the extent of this victimization. Obstetric violence against Black women goes beyond gender issues, also involving race and social class. Conclusion: It is concluded that being Black and poor in Brazil increases vulnerability to obstetric violence, exposing the institutional racism present in various health services.
Downloads
References
Organização Mundial da Saúde. Relatório mundial sobre a prevenção da violência 2014. Genebra: Organização Mundial da Saúde; 2014. Disponível em: https://nev.prp.usp.br/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/1579-VIP-Main-report-Pt-Br-26-10-2015.pdf
Damasceno ALS, Arruda AG, Barbosa EDS, Fernandes HMA. Iniquidades interseccionais no atendimento obstétrico às mulheres negras de comunidade quilombola. Rev Ciênc Plural. 2024;10(2):1–16. doi: 10.21680/2446-7286.2024v10n2ID34948.
Leite TH, Marques ES, Corrêa RG, Leal MDC, Olegário BDCD, Costa RMD, et al. Epidemiology of obstetric violence: a narrative review of the Brazilian context. Ciênc Saúde Colet. 2024;29(9):e12222023. doi: 10.1590/1413-81232024299.12222023en.
Lima KDD, Pimentel C, Lyra TM. Disparidades raciais: uma análise da violência obstétrica em mulheres negras. Ciênc Saúde Colet. 2021;26(suppl 3):4909–18. doi: 10.1590/1413-812320212611.3.24242019.
Conselho Federal de Medicina (CFM). Parecer CFM nº 32/2018. Brasília: Conselho Federal de Medicina; 2018. Disponível em: https://sistemas.cfm.org.br/normas/arquivos/pareceres/BR/2018/32_2018.pdf
Ministério Público Federal (MPF). MPF recomenda ao Ministério da Saúde que atue contra a violência obstétrica em vez de proibir o uso do termo [Internet]. 2024 [citado 2024 dez]. Disponível em: http://www.mpf.mp.br/sp/sala-de-imprensa/noticias-sp/mpf-recomenda-ao-ministerio-da-saude-que-atue-contra-a-violencia-obstetrica-em-vez-de-proibir-o-uso-do-termo
G1. Ministério da Saúde reconhece legitimidade do uso do termo 'violência obstétrica'. G1 [Internet]. 2019. Disponível em: https://g1.globo.com/ciencia-e-saude/noticia/2019/06/10/ministerio-da-saude-reconhece-legitimidade-do-uso-do-termo-violencia-obstetrica.ghtml
Migalhas. Violência obstétrica: MPF e entidades repudiam orientação do Ministério da Saúde de abolir termo. Migalhas [Internet]. 2025. Disponível em: https://www.migalhas.com.br/quentes/302078/violencia-obstetrica---mpf-e-entidades-repudiam-orientacao-do-ministerio-da-saude-de-abolir-termo
Santana ATD, Couto TM, Lima KTRDS, Oliveira PSD, Bomfim ANA, Almeida LCG, et al. Obstetric racism, a debate under construction in Brazil: perceptions of black women on obstetric violence. Ciênc Saúde Colet. 2024;29(9):e09952023. doi: 10.1590/1413-81232024299.09952023en.
Leal MC, Gama SGN. Birth in Brazil. Cad Saúde Pública. 2014;30(13). doi: 10.1590/0102-311XED01S114.
Assis JFD. Interseccionalidade, racismo institucional e direitos humanos: compreensões à violência obstétrica. Serv Soc Soc. 2018;(133):547–65. doi: 10.1590/0101-6628.159.
Saraiva VCDS, Campos DDS. The cheapest meat on the market is black meat: notes on racism and obstetric violence against Black women. Ciênc Saúde Colet. 2023;28(9):2511–7. doi: 10.1590/1413-81232023289.05182023en.
Rios F, Ratts A. A perspectiva interseccional de Lélia Gonzalez. In: Chalhoub S, Pinto FM, organizadores. Pensadores negros-pensadoras negras do século XIX e XX. Belo Horizonte: Traço Fino; 2016.
Crenshaw K. Documento para o encontro de especialistas em aspectos da discriminação racial relativos ao gênero. Rev Estud Fem. 2002;10(1):171–88. doi: 10.1590/S0104-026X2002000100011.
Ferreira MS, Gonçalves E. “Parirás com dor”: a violência obstétrica revisitada. Soc Cult [Internet]. 2020 [citado 28 mar 2025];23. Disponível em: https://www.revistas.ufg.br/fcs/article/view/60230
Alves GKA, Lopes RS, Cabral JN, Moreira APA, Cecílio JO, Batista ASFC. Relação entre iniquidades racial e violência obstétrica no parto. Rev Cient Esc Est Saúde Pública Goiás Cândido Santiago. 2023;9(9d3):1–19.
Medeiros RDCDS, Nascimento EGCD. “Na hora de fazer não chorou”: a violência obstétrica e suas expressões. Rev Estud Fem. 2022;30(3):e71008. doi: 10.1590/1806-9584-2022v30n371008.
Cardoso EM, Cockell FF. Atenção à saúde da mulher negra no ciclo gravídico-puerperal: percepções em primeira pessoa. Cad Gên Tecnol. 2019;12(40):111. doi: 10.3895/cgt.v12n40.9485.
Dalenogare G, Vieira LB, Maffacciolli R, Riquinho DL, Coelho DF. Pertencimentos sociais e vulnerabilidades em experiências de parto e gestação na prisão. Ciênc Saúde Colet. 2022;27(1):263–72. doi: 10.1590/1413-81232022271.33922020.
d’Orsi E, Brüggemann OM, Diniz CSG, Aguiar JMD, Gusman CR, Torres JA, et al. Desigualdades sociais e satisfação das mulheres com o atendimento ao parto no Brasil: estudo nacional de base hospitalar. Cad Saúde Pública. 2014;30(suppl 1):S154–68. doi: 10.1590/0102-311x00087813.
Diniz SG, Salgado HDO, Aguiar Andrezzo HFD, Cardin De Carvalho PG, Albuquerque Carvalho PC, Azevedo Aguiar C, et al. Abuse and disrespect in childbirth care as a public health issue in Brazil: origins, definitions, impacts on maternal health, and proposals for its prevention. J Hum Growth Dev. 2015;25(3):377. doi: 10.7322/jhgd.106080.
Marques SB. Violência obstétrica no Brasil: um conceito em construção para a garantia do direito integral à saúde das mulheres. Cad Ibero Am Direito Sanit. 2020;9(1):97–119. doi: 10.17566/ciads.v9i1.585.
Brisola EMA, Ribeiro SLS, Macri LRD, Rodrigues R. Violência obstétrica como violação de direitos humanos das mulheres. Rev Científica Humanidades. 2023;16(1). doi: 10.32813/2179-1120.2023.v16.n1.a930. Disponível em: https://www.rchunitau.com.br/index.php/rch/article/view/930
Akotirene C. O que é interseccionalidade. Belo Horizonte: Letramento; 2018.
Werneck J. Racismo institucional e saúde da população negra. Saúde Soc. 2016;25(3):535–49. doi: 10.1590/s0104-12902016261.
Almeida SL. Racismo Estrutural. São Paulo: Ed. Jandaíra; 2020. (Coleção Feminismo Plurais).
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Brazilian Journal of Health Research

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
The Revista Brasileira de Pesquisa em Saúde (RBPS) adopts the CC BY 4.0 license, which means that authors retain the copyright of the works they submit to the journal. Authors are responsible for declaring that their contribution is an original manuscript, that it has not been previously published, and that it is not under simultaneous review by another scientific journal. Upon submitting the manuscript, authors grant RBPS the exclusive right of first publication, subject to peer review.
Authors are permitted to enter into additional contracts for the non-exclusive distribution of the version published by RBPS (for example, in institutional repositories or as a book chapter), provided that due acknowledgment of authorship and of initial publication by RBPS is given. Authors are also encouraged to make their work available online (for example, in institutional repositories or on their personal pages) after its initial publication in the journal, with due acknowledgment of authorship and of the original publication by RBPS.
Accordingly, under the CC BY 4.0 license, readers have the right to:
- Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format for any purpose, even commercially;
- Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially.
The licensor cannot revoke these freedoms as long as you follow the license terms. Under the following terms:
- Attribution — You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
- No additional restrictions — You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.