One-Third Of Women Give Birth Outside Health Facilities In Afghanistan, Reports UNICEF

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) reported that one-third of pregnant women in Afghanistan give birth outside of healthcare facilities.

According to the organisation, over 67% of births in Afghanistan are attended by a skilled health professional.

UNICEF said that giving birth outside of healthcare facilities and without the assistance of skilled healthcare providers puts pregnant women's lives at serious risk.

In a report, the organisation shared the story of Fahima, a midwife in Mazar-i-Sharif, who emphasised that pregnant women should meet with a skilled doctor at least four times before giving birth, but only one-third of women in Afghanistan do this.

Fahima told UNICEF that many pregnant women do not know how to provide themselves with healthy meals during pregnancy.

Previously, the World Health Organisation (WHO) had reported that every day, 24 mothers and 167 children in Afghanistan die from preventable diseases related to pregnancy and childbirth.

The United Nations has also described Afghanistan as one of the worst countries for maternal mortality rates during childbirth.

According to statistics released by WHO in December 2023, since 2017, 638 women in Afghanistan die annually per 100,000 live births.