Coercive hysterectomies in India: framework of analysis and guidelines for intervention

Abstract

Hysterectomy in India has raised suspicions for its unusual increase in young, illiterate and poor rural women. The objective of the work is to analyze the relationship between obstetric violence, agricultural labor exploitation, unethical medical practices and taboos related to the uterus and menstruation. The methodology was based on a systematic bibliographic review using academic search engines that made it possible to locate the most current and significant publications on the problem addressed. The results indicate that the practice of hysterectomy is standardized in India and that it is functional to the capitalist system, the health system, and the patients to get or keep employment. It concludes with the need to activate medical audits, allocate efforts to achieve greater transparency of health services and focus health care on a human rights perspective, with a gender approach that, especially empowers low-income women to take decisions that affect your own body.