KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reports that one-third of women in Afghanistan give birth outside health facilities without assistance from healthcare professionals.
In a report published on Monday, July 15, UNICEF stated that although pregnant women should have at least four antenatal visits with skilled professionals, only one-third of women in Afghanistan have access to this assistance.
“When mothers give birth outside a health facility, or without a healthcare professional to assist them, the mother’s life is at serious risk,” UNICEF said. “If she has a birth complication, such as hemorrhage or fetal distress, there is little chance for a medical professional to intervene,” the UN agency added.
UNICEF also says that, in partnership with the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, it supports over 27,000 health workers in Afghanistan by covering their salaries and supplying medicine.
This report comes as Afghanistan remains one the worst countries in the world for childbirth-related deaths, with “one woman dying every two hours,” according to the UN.
Even before the Taliban’s takeover in August 2021, Afghanistan had one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world, with 620 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020.
Following the Taliban’s return to power, Afghanistan lost billions in foreign aid as international organizations and other countries withdrew their support, which the healthcare system heavily relied on.
Furthermore, the Taliban’s ban on women’s education and the training of new female doctors—who are crucial for maternal healthcare in a conservative country where most families prefer female doctors—has worsened the situation for women.
Last month, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that approximately 24 mothers and 167 infants die each day in Afghanistan due to a lack of essential healthcare services.
“Women and children are increasingly vulnerable to adverse health outcomes, particularly concerning reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health,” WHO said. “Tragically, preventable maternal mortality claims the lives of 24 mothers every day, and a staggering 167 infants die each day of preventable causes,” it added.
Meanwhile, the UN and rights groups have been warning of a sharp increase in child marriages in Afghanistan, largely attributed to the Taliban’s restrictions. This often leads to early pregnancies and significant health risks for young mothers.
Earlier, UN Women highlighted that if the Taliban’s restrictions on girls’ education persist, the rate of child marriage among Afghan girls will increase by 25%, early childbearing by 45%, and the risk of maternal mortality by 50%.
