Gender and reproductive health are important aspects of human rights and well-being, but they face many challenges in Afghanistan. According to UNICEF², Afghanistan has one of the **highest infant mortality rates** in the world and thousands of Afghan women die every year from **pregnancy-related causes**, most of which are preventable. The country also has a high **maternal mortality ratio** of 638 per 100,000 live births¹².
Some of the factors that affect gender and reproductive health in Afghanistan include poverty, insecurity, lack of education, cultural norms, gender inequality, and limited access to quality health care services¹². Adolescents, who make up 40 per cent of the population, face tremendous challenges in meeting their **sexual reproductive health needs**². Women and girls also face barriers to their empowerment and economic activity, as well as violence and discrimination¹.
UNICEF and other organizations are working with the Ministry of Public Health and other partners to improve services and ensure quality **reproductive maternal newborn child and adolescent health (RMNCAH)** care, as well as **expanded programme on immunization (EPI)** services for children and women². They are also advocating for the protection of women's and girls' rights and the reopening of schools for all girls².
Source: Conversation with Bing, 5/21/2023
(1) Health | UNICEF Afghanistan. https://www.unicef.org/afghanistan/health.
(2) Afghan women and access to health care in the past 25 years. https://www.thelancet.com/journals/eclinm/article/PIIS2589-5370%2821%2900516-2/fulltext.
