Yes Soo, that’s tricky. In Brazil the term isn’t confined to medics and encompasses midwives, so it is more general, but I take the point that in English speaking countries it might be read as just about obstetricians, which is unhelpful.

 

 

 

 

Hmm, this is interesting isn’t it, conceptually? Actually, in the UK we do have Health Observatories  that track health conditions over time, so this use of the word  does actually fit with our formal public health systems. ‘Watch’ tends to be a bit more common in association with activism – watching  public bodies to ensure they behave with good governance and etc.

 

I also wonder about the term ‘obstetric’. I understand that, in Spanish, this refers to all those working in the maternity services (as the word is used in association with nurses who work on labour wards, for instance, and (?) with midwives in some cases?) I think that ‘obstetric’ is therefore an appropriate in that context, as violence/disrespect/abuse is perpetrated by some members all sections of the maternity service workforce.

 

However, in the UK, at least, ‘obstetric’ refers very specifically to obstetric doctors. Using the term in the UK, therefore, tends to force oppositions – obstetricians are (always) bad, midwives are (always) good. Not only does this risk professional conflict (which is not good for women and babies) it isn’t actually true – some obstetricians are very respectful, and some midwives are not at all respectful.

 

If the idea is that the philosophy and practice of obstetrics (as opposed to that of individual obstetricians)  is (always?) violent, and that of midwifery (as opposed to that of individual midwives) is (always?) respectful, then that is an interesting concept.

 

Language is, of course,  powerful. In the UK context, talking about ‘obstetric violence’ has the power to shock. This might raise a debate, which is good. But it also has the power to lead to significant resistance, from doctors who are trying hard to make a difference, who feel that they are being painted as the only baddies in this scenario, and who are, themselves, already isolated among their colleagues. So then the very people who are working from within become even more undermined, and then they give up.

 

I’m not sure what the answer is. Personally, I think that  framing the term  in English might work better as ‘Observatory for disrespectful and abusive maternity care’– but what do others think?

 

All the best

 

Soo

 

 

-------- Original message --------
From: MIDWIFERY-RESEARCH automatic digest system <[log in to unmask]>
Date: 13/02/2017 12:00 a.m. (GMT+00:00)
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: MIDWIFERY-RESEARCH Digest - 11 Feb 2017 to 12 Feb 2017 (#2017-38)

There are 2 messages totaling 358 lines in this issue.

Topics of the day:

  1. Contribution on obstetric violence
  2. SV: Contribution on obstetric violence

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Date:    Sun, 12 Feb 2017 00:23:23 +0000
From:    Camilla Schneck <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Contribution on obstetric violence

Dear collegues, 
We in Brazil are trying to translate from portuguese into english the name of our projetc about Obstetric Violence
What you all think that could be better?
Obsevatory of Obstetric Violence in Brazil,Obstetric Violence Observatory in Brazil orWach Obstetric Violence in Brazil for me this is the most significative but    I´m not so specialist in this term in English.
Sounds god the term Observatory for most of you? or is my invention? In Portuguese is ok. But I´m really not sure in English
Please if you can help send me in private message
Thank you so much indeed
Hope to disseminate this project with you very soon
All the best
Camilla 

 Profa Dra Camilla A. Schneck Departamento de Enfermagem Materno-Infantil Escola de Enfermagem Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul Dr Camilla A. Schneck Departament of Maternal and Child Nursing School of Nursing Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul Rua São Manoel, 963 Porto Alegre/RS Brasil 90620-110 skypename: camilla_midwife    Cause boa impressão:  imprima só o necessário! A

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Date:    Sun, 12 Feb 2017 13:52:27 +0000
From:    Jette Aaroe Clausen <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: SV: Contribution on obstetric violence

Dear Camilla, I like the word Brazilian observatory of obstetric violence.  It name the issue and it tells us that it is being observed and investigated. If it is prober English I will let other decide.
Regards
Jette

Fra: A forum for discussion on midwifery and reproductive health research. [mailto:[log in to unmask]] På vegne af Camilla Schneck
Sendt: 12. februar 2017 01:23
Til: [log in to unmask]
Emne: Contribution on obstetric violence

Dear collegues,

We in Brazil are trying to translate from portuguese into english the name of our projetc about Obstetric Violence

What you all think that could be better?

Obsevatory of Obstetric Violence in Brazil,
Obstetric Violence Observatory in Brazil or
Wach Obstetric Violence in Brazil for me this is the most significative but    I´m not so specialist in this term in English.

Sounds god the term Observatory for most of you? or is my invention? In Portuguese is ok. But I´m really not sure in English

Please if you can help send me in private message

Thank you so much indeed

Hope to disseminate this project with you very soon

All the best

Camilla



Profa Dra Camilla A. Schneck Departamento de Enfermagem Materno-Infantil Escola de Enfermagem Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul Dr Camilla A. Schneck
Departament of Maternal and Child Nursing School of Nursing Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul
Rua São Manoel, 963 Porto Alegre/RS Brasil 90620-110 skypename: camilla_midwife
Cause boa impressão:  imprima só o necessário! A natureza agradece!

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End of MIDWIFERY-RESEARCH Digest - 11 Feb 2017 to 12 Feb 2017 (#2017-38)
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