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Description
Project aim to take an active approach to the development of public policies in the field of health, especially woman, and thus contribute to a better and, above all, sustainable implementation of women''s human rights in practice and the application of gender equality. The project will conduct an research, and massive media campaign, and the focus will be given to participation of target groups (with their current sensitivity, improvement of their advocacy skills and strengthening of women''s human rights and good practice in childbirth). The project will conduct recommendations for relevant stakehoder based on the research. Childbirth care is a public interest and therefore a matter for everyone. However, it occurs massive violations of women''s human rights are still a case in Slovakia. The project aims to increase public control, networking of NGOs and NGOs creating coordinated pressure on institutions with responsibilities. In cooperation with partners from Norway and Slovakia the research and repeat monitoring will be realised as main actvities of the project. The problem is exacerbated by the lack of public sensitivity to these topics and the lack of awareness of the need for systemic and comprehensive approaches to public policy enforcement. There is no systematic data collection, analysis and implementation of findings on the part of organizations with powers. Networking and partnership building and intensive work with the media will contribute to targeted and coordinated pressure on organizations with competencies. The project will focus especially on strengthening the position of midwives, whose key role in the health care system in the Slovak Republic is often underestimated and invisible (as demonstrated by previous research). Main activities of the project will be: the reasearch, the campaigne, expert round tables, recommendation and policy creation.
Summary of project results
Women in Slovakia constantly report experiencing one or more types of mistreatment in health facilities, such as loss of autonomy, being shouted at, scolded, or threatened, and being ignored, refused, or receiving no response to requests for help, and others. The project promoter identified massive violations of women''s human rights in maternal healthcare and childbirth, and the project''s main goal was to improve the experience of maternal healthcare in health facilities. Once the COVID-19 pandemic arose, the situation got even worse. The project promoter aimed to take an active approach to improve maternal healthcare and related issues and, in cooperation with partners from Norway, conducted very ambitious research, data collection, and media campaign. In partnership with the project partner, the project promoter prepared and distributed a survey to capture lived experiences of maternity care, known as CEQ. Analyzed data collected, the project promoter published a comprehensive report in an International expert journal and consulted information gained with state authorities to advocate for necessary system changes.
Giving birth is the most precious moment in our lives for both men and women. Especially women are in a vulnerable position, and it is a matter of human rights to provide women throughout pregnancy and childbirth with high-quality healthcare standards and welcoming and supportive behaviors in perinatal encounters. High-quality, respectful maternity care is a global priority.
Summary of bilateral results
The project promoter conducted this project in cooperation with the partner from Norway, the Norwegian university Oslomet, Department of Nursing and Health Promotion. It was a great pleasure and honor for the project promoter to have this partner in this project because it brought this project to a high academic level. Thanks to the Norwegian partner, the project promoter had an opportunity to conduct the multidimensional Childbirth Experience Questionnaire (CEQ), initially developed in Sweden, translated into Slovak, and validated in cooperation with academic representatives from Oslomet was implemented in the project study. The study based on CEQ was later published in an international journal. As a part of the project, the project promoter conducted a webinar, and thanks to bilateral cooperation, numerous international experts were present. Norwegian partner appreciated the benefit of the human rights point of view brought by the project promoter, which they were not considered in Norway before in this theme. Due to great satisfaction and success in this bilateral cooperation, partners are talking about future cooperation.