Lack of skilled support adding to rising maternal deaths in Afghanistan, PgII.

Key Highlights:

• Maternal deaths are rising in Afghanistan due to a lack of skilled support during childbirth.
• Bans on female education and employment in healthcare are exacerbating the crisis.
• UNICEF reports a high maternal mortality rate of 638 deaths per 100,000 births in Afghanistan.
• Only 6.2% of Afghan women receive good-quality antenatal care.
• Authorities banned women from higher education in health sciences in December 2024.

Detailed Insights:

• The Afghan healthcare system is fragile and under-resourced, leading to unequal access to services and high rates of malnutrition.
• Cultural norms restrict women from being treated by male doctors, making female healthcare providers essential.
• Restrictions on female health workers lead to a surge in home births without trained professionals and emergency interventions.
• The ban on secondary education for girls is estimated to have cost the Afghan economy at least $500 million in 2022.
• Strategies to address the crisis include lifting bans on women's education and work, protecting the female health workforce, and ensuring women-only services.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Maternal Mortality Rate: The number of maternal deaths per 100,000 live births.
• Antenatal Care: Healthcare provided to women during pregnancy.
• Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan: A plan estimating the number of people requiring health assistance.