Afghanistan faces critical maternity crisis, Emergency report finds

A new report by the humanitarian organization Emergency highlights a severe maternity crisis in Afghanistan five years after the Taliban takeover. The report, titled ‘Nascere sicuri, cure affidabili’, details how women and children are disproportionately affected by the country's ongoing humanitarian emergency.

Key challenges to maternal health include high transportation costs, expensive medicines, a shortage of female healthcare workers, and insufficient medical services. Consequently, Afghanistan maintains one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the region. Data shows that 54% of women only seek prenatal checkups during their second or third trimester, and only 11% complete the four recommended visits. Additionally, in 25 out of 28 facilities analyzed, patients were discharged within six hours of childbirth, failing to meet the recommended 24-hour observation period.