UBC Midwifery researchers Dr. Nisha Malhotra, Dr. Cecilia Jevitt, and Dr. Saraswathi Vedam are co-authors of a groundbreaking study on weight stigma in maternity care, recently published in BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. This national study reveals significant inequities in perinatal care, particularly for individuals with higher body mass indices (BMIs).
New Canadian research underscores the widespread impact of weight stigma on perinatal care, revealing significant disparities in how individuals with higher body mass indices (BMIs) are treated during maternity care. Published in BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, the study highlights the urgent need for systemic change to address this issue.
Key Findings
- Autonomy in Decision-Making
- Participants with higher BMIs reported significantly lower autonomy in healthcare decisions, particularly those in the highest BMI categories.
- Respect in Care
- Respectful treatment decreased as BMI increased, with participants reporting discomfort and coercion in interactions with healthcare providers.
- Experiences of Mistreatment
- Individuals with higher BMIs experienced more frequent mistreatment, including disrespectful comments and inadequate attention during labour.
Study Overview
The study, part of the RESPCCT (Research Examining Stories of Pregnancy and Childbearing Care Trajectories) initiative at UBC’s Birth Place Lab, analyzed data from over 4,800 participants between July 2020 and February 2022. Using validated tools such as MADM (Mothers’ Autonomy in Decision Making) and MIST (Mistreatment Index), researchers quantified the impact of weight stigma on care quality.
Implications for Perinatal Care
The findings reveal the urgent need for health care providers to address implicit and explicit biases. Recommendations include:
- Training and Education: Focus on weight-neutral care and the social determinants of health.
- Cultural Shifts in Healthcare: Move away from weight-centric narratives to prioritize health outcomes over weight.
- Systemic Reforms: Foster equity and respect for all pregnant individuals, regardless of BMI.
“These results highlight the critical importance of cultivating an environment of respect, understanding, and dignity for all individuals in perinatal care,” stated the research team.
Read the Full Study
Access the publication here: Read the study on BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth
For media inquiries:
- Dr. Cecilia Jevitt (Interviews)
- Dr. Nisha Malhotra (Knowledge Translation, Blogs, Forum Discussions): nisha.malhotra@ubc.ca
- Dr. Saraswathi Vedam (RESPCCT Principal Investigator)
Citation:
Nisha Malhotra, Cecilia M. Jevitt, Kathrin Stoll, Wanda Phillips-Beck, Saraswathi Vedam & the RESPCCT Study Team. Weight-based disparities in perinatal care: quantitative findings of respect, autonomy, mistreatment, and body mass index in a national Canadian survey. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 24, 737 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-024-06928-8