The predictive role of domestic violence awareness and obstetric violence on birth expectations and experience

Objective: This study was conducted as a longitudinal research based on a relational screening model in order to determine the predictive role of domestic violence awareness and obstetric violence on birth expectations and experiences. Method: The sample consisted of 200 women who applied for delivery at Istanbul Esenler Maternity and Children's Hospital, met the research criteria, and agreed to participate. Data were collected using the Personal Information Form, the Domestic Violence Awareness Scale (DVAS), the Obstetric Violence Scale for Pregnant Women (OVSPW), the Birth Expectations and Experiences Scale (BEES), and the Obstetric Violence Scale (OVS). Results: The mean score of participants on the OVSPW was 33.07 (SD = 16.17), indicating a moderate level of perceived obstetric violence; the mean score on the OVS was 1.30 (SD = 1.40), showing a low level of perceived obstetric violence. The mean DVAS score was 51.10 (SD = 7.30), indicating a high level of awareness. The mean overall birth satisfaction score was found to be 3.50 (SD = 0.40), which is considered high. The percentages of metexpectations, unmet expectations, unexpectedly met expectations, and unexpectedly unmet expectations were 79.6%, 20.4%, 43.8%, and 56.2%, respectively. A negative and low-level significant relationship was found between DVAS and OVSPW (p < 0.05). OVSPW negatively predicted the percentage of met expectations, positively predicted the percentage of unmet expectations, and significantly predicted both unexpectedly met and unexpectedly unmet expectations. Moreover, it had a negative effect on overall birth satisfaction (p < 0.001). Domestic violence awareness was not found to have a significant effect on these variables (p > 0.05). Conclusion: It was concluded that the perceived level of obstetric violence among participants was a significant predictor of various dimensions of the birth experience (met expectations, unmet expectations, unexpectedly met expectations, unexpectedly unmet expectations) as well as overall birth satisfaction, whereas domestic violence awareness did not have a significant impact on these dimensions. It is considered that promoting respectful, woman-centered, and violence-free maternity care practices is of critical importance in increasing women's satisfaction with childbirth. September 2025, 106 pages. Keywords: Domestic Violence, Obstetric Violence, Birth Expectations and Experiences, Predictive Role, Midwifery, Childbirth