A qualitative study on acceptability of the mistreatment of women during childbirth in Myanmar.

This is the first use of gender analysis to explore how gender dynamics and power relations contribute to women's experiences of mistreatment during childbirth. Both providers and women expected women to understand and "obey" the rules of the health facility and instructions from providers in order to have better experiences. In this way, deviation from following the rules and instructions puts the providers in a place where perpetrating acts of mistreatment were justifiable under certain conditions. Understanding how gender norms and power structures how women are treated during childbirth is critical to improve women's experiences.