Study Highlights Midwife Shortage and Educational Barriers Threatening Maternal Health in Afghanistan

A new study published by researcher Meysam Najafizadeh indicates that a critical shortage of midwives, combined with restrictions on women’s education, is severely threatening maternal health services across Afghanistan. The research highlights a pronounced divide between urban and rural healthcare access, noting that postnatal care coverage and facility availability remain critically low outside major cities.

According to 2023 data cited in the report, approximately 8,094 midwives are currently active in the country. This results in a health personnel density of 10.3 per 10,000 residents, a figure that falls significantly short of the World Health Organization benchmark of 44.5. While United Nations data shows that maternal mortality has declined from 1,372 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2000 to roughly 521 in recent years, the rate remains classified as high-risk.

International agencies have raised concerns about the long-term impact of current educational policies on the healthcare workforce. A UNICEF analysis referenced in the study warns that ongoing bans on female education could lead to the loss of approximately 5,400 female health workers by 2030, with the shortfall projected to reach nearly 9,600 by 2035. The United Nations Human Rights Office has similarly cautioned that limiting women’s access to schooling disrupts the entire pipeline for training and deploying female medical professionals.

The findings underscore the compounding challenges facing Afghanistan’s public health sector. Despite measurable progress in reducing maternal deaths over the past two decades, experts stress that sustained access to education and targeted recruitment of midwives are essential to maintaining and expanding essential healthcare services nationwide.