Indigenous Women Report ‘Shocking’ Mistreatment During Childbirth Care: Study
The survey found 63% of Indigenous participants reported mistreatment and nearly 75% reported disrespect, researchers said.
- On Wednesday, July 8, 2026, Canada's first national survey on respectful maternity care revealed widespread mistreatment of Indigenous patients, with 63 per cent reporting mistreatment and nearly 75 per cent reporting disrespect during pregnancy and childbirth.
- The RESPCCT study, led by UBC Prof. Saraswathi Vedam and Anishinaabe scholar Dr. Wanda Phillips-Beck, documented 6,096 people across Canada between 2020 and 2022 to measure respectful maternity care experiences.
- Participants reported significant harmful experiences: 39.6 per cent reported neglect, 31 per cent said treatment was imposed without consent. Phillips-Beck stated these findings manifest structural racism, exposing health-care system failures to uphold Indigenous rights.
- Gena Edwards, president of the B.C. Native Women's Association, shared a 2023 case from Interior Health where an 18-year-old was denied care and gave birth in her car, describing such mistreatment as ongoing.
- Access to midwifery care resulted in lower mistreatment rates of 41.3 per cent compared to 68.5 per cent without such care, prompting Vedam to call for Indigenous-led approaches and trauma-informed provider education.
19 Articles
19 Articles
Indigenous women report ‘shocking’ mistreatment during childbirth care: study - Creston Valley Advance
New data from a first-of-its-kind nationwide maternity study led by University of British Columbia researchers has found that three-quarters of Indigenous women surveyed report some form of mistreatment or disrespect from care providers during pregnancy and childbirth. UBC Prof. Saraswathi Vedam said the study is “not just about being nice to people” — mistreatment leads to poor outcomes. “When people don’t trust the health care system, when the…
Indigenous women report ‘shocking’ mistreatment during childbirth care: study - Fort St. James Caledonia Courier
New data from a first-of-its-kind nationwide maternity study led by University of British Columbia researchers has found that three-quarters of Indigenous women surveyed report some form of mistreatment or disrespect from care providers during pregnancy and childbirth. UBC Prof. Saraswathi Vedam said the study is “not just about being nice to people” — mistreatment leads to poor outcomes. “When people don’t trust the health care system, when the…
Indigenous women report ‘shocking’ mistreatment during childbirth care: study - Grand Forks Gazette
New data from a first-of-its-kind nationwide maternity study led by University of British Columbia researchers has found that three-quarters of Indigenous women surveyed report some form of mistreatment or disrespect from care providers during pregnancy and childbirth. UBC Prof. Saraswathi Vedam said the study is “not just about being nice to people” — mistreatment leads to poor outcomes. “When people don’t trust the health care system, when the…
Indigenous women report ‘shocking’ mistreatment during childbirth care: study - Vanderhoof Omineca Express
New data from a first-of-its-kind nationwide maternity study led by University of British Columbia researchers has found that three-quarters of Indigenous women surveyed report some form of mistreatment or disrespect from care providers during pregnancy and childbirth. UBC Prof. Saraswathi Vedam said the study is “not just about being nice to people” — mistreatment leads to poor outcomes. “When people don’t trust the health care system, when the…
Indigenous women report ‘shocking’ mistreatment during childbirth care: study - Northern Sentinel
New data from a first-of-its-kind nationwide maternity study led by University of British Columbia researchers has found that three-quarters of Indigenous women surveyed report some form of mistreatment or disrespect from care providers during pregnancy and childbirth. UBC Prof. Saraswathi Vedam said the study is “not just about being nice to people” — mistreatment leads to poor outcomes. “When people don’t trust the health care system, when the…
Smithers Interior News
Indigenous women report ‘shocking’ mistreatment during childbirth care: study
New data from a first-of-its-kind nationwide maternity study led by University of British Columbia researchers has found that three-quarters of Indigenous women surveyed report some form of mistreatment or disrespect from care providers during pregnancy and childbirth. UBC Prof. Saraswathi Vedam said the study is “not just about being nice to people” — mistreatment leads to poor outcomes. “When people don’t trust the health care system, when the…
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