Vall d'Hebron hosts an international training week on obstetric violence as part of the European IPOV project

The Vall d’Hebron Research Institute (VHIR) organised, within the framework of the European project IPOV – Respectful Care, an international training week aimed at researchers and healthcare professionals from Europe and Latin America. Coordinated by Dr Serena Brigidi (Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Department of Anthropology, Philosophy and Social Work) and member of the Maternal and Fetal Medicine Group at VHIR, the initiative seeks to foster interdisciplinary exchange between the social and biomedical sciences, explore innovative educational tools, and stimulate critical reflection on obstetric violence and pathways for its eradication.

Over the course of four days, participants engaged in a programme combining clinical techniques, participatory dynamics and artistic expression. The week began with a mediation skills workshop as a tool for conflict resolution in maternal and sexual and reproductive health care settings, led by Silvina García Conto (ACADP – Asociación Civil Argentina de Puericultura, Ministry of Health of Argentina). Later, participants visited the neonatal ICU at Vall d’Hebron Hospital, gaining first-hand insight into protocols and care procedures surrounding childbirth in complex settings.

The second day featured the workshop “Give voice to healthcare professionals, mothers and activists for improving professional training and team work: a workshop to co-create a plan for action using IMAgiNE GLOBAL data”, facilitated by Marzia Lazzerini and Ilaria Mariani (IRCCS Burlo Garofolo, Epidemiology and Biostatistics Unit, Italy). That same day, the play Salve Regina, written and performed by Ángela Palacio, was staged at Sala Fèlix. The play, based on real-life maternal experiences, was followed by a discussion between the artist and the IPOV research team, exploring how art and science can converge to transform birth culture.

“Our goal is to break down barriers between disciplines and territories, creating a space of deep listening and learning where science, activism, art and clinical practice can come together to promote more humane and just models of care”, says Dr Serena Brigidi.

That evening, a Catalan dinner provided an informal setting for exchange among participants from different countries and fields.

Thursday morning focused on a shared reflection on obstetric violence committees, examining their emergence, challenges and lessons learned, with the participation of midwife Vanessa Bueno López (Vall d’Hebron Research Institute, Maternal and Fetal Medicine). This will be followed by a restorative justice workshop, exploring its applications in reproductive health contexts, led by Elena Carreras Maratonas (Vall d’Hebron University Hospital), Vanessa Bueno López, and Serena Brigidi.

Thursday afternoon and all of Friday was dedicated to advanced clinical simulation exercises, a training methodology that enables professionals to develop essential non-technical skills for childbirth care, such as communication, global perspective and teamwork. Throughout these two days, different groups were guided first by Dr Serena Brigidi and Dr Marina Vilarmau Prados (Vall d’Hebron Research Institute), and subsequently by Dr María Fernanda González, Dr Ema Schuler, Dr Carina Leiva, and Dr Ana Laura García Presa (all from the National University of Entre Ríos), who will facilitate work on realistic and complex clinical scenarios.

This activity is part of the project IPOV – Obstetric Violence: Innovative Tools for Respectful Maternity and Birth Care, funded by the European Union through the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Staff Exchange programme (HORIZON-MSCA-2022, Grant Agreement No. 101130141).

About the IPOV Project

IPOV – Obstetric Violence: Innovative Tools for Respectful Maternity and Birth Care is a four-year European research and staff exchange initiative (2024–2028), funded under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Staff Exchanges programme (HORIZON-MSCA-2022-SE, Grant Agreement No. 101130141). Coordinated by the University of Udine (Italy), the project brings together 19 partner organisations across Europe and Latin America, including universities, healthcare institutions, NGOs, and research centres.

IPOV addresses the pressing issue of obstetric violence—a form of mistreatment experienced by women during pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum care. This phenomenon is often embedded in systemic inequalities, medical hierarchies, and gender-based power imbalances. Despite increasing awareness, obstetric violence remains largely unrecognised and insufficiently regulated in many health systems worldwide.

The project’s objectives are to:

• Advance interdisciplinary research on obstetric violence as a global and multifaceted issue;
• Develop shared tools and methodologies to identify, understand, and prevent it;
• Promote respectful, evidence-based, and women-centred models of maternity care;
• Strengthen the dialogue between science, healthcare practice, activism, and public policy.

Activities include international staff exchanges (secondments), collaborative research, training workshops, knowledge-sharing events, and the co-design of innovative digital resources.

IPOV also contributes to the European Union’s goals on gender equality, healthcare quality, and socially responsible research and innovation. All public outputs are disseminated openly via the project’s communication channels.