Afghanistan is experiencing one of the world’s most prolonged humanitarian crises, shaped by conflict, displacement, economic collapse, and climate-related shocks. In 2023, more than 28 million people required humanitarian assistance, with over 90% living below the poverty line. These realities have reversed two decades of progress in women’s rights and health, leaving maternal, neonatal, and child mortality among the highest globally.
Nearly one-third of maternal and newborn deaths remain preventable with timely, high-quality care. Achieving Sustainable Development Goal 3 (good health and wellbeing) and Sustainable Development Goal 5 (gender equality) is increasingly difficult amid restrictions on women’s participation, insecurity, and strained health resources. Pregnant women face malnutrition, psychological distress, and limited access to lifesaving services, while rising perinatal mental health concerns, including depression, anxiety, and trauma, are linked to chronic stress and gender inequality.
These intersecting vulnerabilities highlight the urgent need for woman-centred, rights-based maternity care in humanitarian settings. This is particularly relevant in contexts like Afghanistan, where midwives are often the primary point of contact for women and newborn.
Globally, midwife-led care is recognised as one of the most effective and cost-efficient strategies for improving maternal and newborn outcomes. Investments in midwifery strengthen health systems, reduce mortality, and enhance women’s leadership and participation in care.
In Afghanistan, midwives are often the only skilled birth attendants in rural and hard-to-reach areas. They provide the majority of maternity care despite facing delayed salaries, shortages of essential supplies, safety concerns, and declining service quality. Their potential remains constrained by weak infrastructure and limited institutional support.
Strengthening rights-based, respectful maternity care and ensuring safe, well-resourced working environments are essential to protecting women, midwives, and other health providers, while improving maternal and newborn health outcomes.
