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In Afghanistan, Pregnancy Is Still a Minefield
June 23, 2002
By Carlotta Gall
...Women are the forgotten patients of Afghanistan, the most neglected section of society, discriminated against not only under the former Taliban regime, but by the conservative culture of their society, which puts women last. They are also in danger of coming last in line for foreign assistance, as needs like children's health seem to be drawing the bulk of public health aid.
Every woman here has a horror story of miscarriages, infant deaths and terrible struggles to reach specialist maternity care. Even while poverty and violence account for most of the high mortality rate, childbirth remains the most serious problem women face in Afghanistan, and is probably their biggest killer.
Medical specialists are only now getting a more accurate picture of the condition of women's health, and the numbers match their fears. Afghanistan's infant mortality rate of 220 per 1,000 live births and a life expectancy of 46 years are among the world's worst. Now, a comprehensive survey of deaths in childbirth has begun that will cover 140,000 women in four provinces, in urban, rural and remote mountain populations. "We think the survey is going to show Afghanistan has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world," said Dr. Peter Salama, head of health and nutrition at the United Nations Children's Fund, or Unicef, which is overseeing the survey.
Copyright 2001 The New York Times Company
For the Full Article, go to:
http://www.nytimes.com/2002/06/23/health/womenshealth/23GALL.html
UNICEF
http://www.unicef.org/
category: News from Other Sources : General Health News
contributed by Katie Martin on 24 June 2002
Asia : Afghanistan
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