From the very beginning of pandemic outbreak and lockdown in Croatia that lasted from 19 March to 10 May 2020. NGO Roda - Parents in Action received numerous complaints from patients that labouring women are forbidden to have company at childbirth, newborns are separated from their mothers, tests and examinations for pregnant women are difficult to get, declining support to breastfeeding, and announced C-section for all labouring women who have suspected or confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. Patients were complaining they are subjected to aggravated practices that are not in accordance to relevant professional guidelines and evidence-based medicine.
The report also includes an analysis of professional guidelines from global, European and national professional associations. There were obvious differences between these professional guidelines and practice in Croatian health institutions observed during the data analysis. Relevant professional guidelines used in this analysis were mainly the ones published by the British Medical Royal Colleges of gynaecologist and obstetricians, midwives, paediatricians and anaesthesiologists, as well as by the World Health Organisation.
This report has been produced in partnership between NGO Roda - Parents in Action and Ombudsperson for Gender Equality of the Republic of Croatia. Read the full version in Croatian here.
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