Reproductive Health System Deteriorates in Afghanistan Amid Informal Birth Control Ban
The reproductive health system in Afghanistan has significantly deteriorated following an informal ban on birth control that began spreading across the country in 2023. Contraceptive supplies have disappeared, clinics have closed, and complications from pregnancies are often untreated.
Contraceptive supplies have disappeared, clinics have closed, and complications from pregnancies are often untreated.
Implementation of the Ban
The ban was not formally announced. However, by early 2023, healthcare providers in multiple provinces reported a consistent pattern of late, reduced, and eventually absent contraceptive supplies.
In some instances, Taliban personnel reportedly ordered clinic staff to destroy all contraceptives, threatening clinic closure if distribution continued.
Impact on Women and Healthcare System
Women across several provinces have reported facing significant challenges, including unwanted pregnancies, untreated miscarriages, and increased domestic violence.
Many women, particularly those with numerous previous pregnancies, are experiencing severe physical and mental health issues. These include chronic confusion, dizziness, hair loss, and constant body pain.
One 42-year-old mother of 12 reported being pregnant again without access to contraceptives, with her husband forbidding her from seeking them elsewhere.
A 29-year-old woman, advised against further pregnancies due to a life-threatening intestinal blockage, became pregnant again due to unavailable contraception and her husband's insistence on having a daughter.
She survived a high-risk delivery but continues to experience pain and a lack of protective measures.
Reports indicate that domestic violence, including beatings, has led to miscarriages.
Some women have resorted to self-induced abortions using herbs or secret medication, particularly when facing pressure for a male child. Miscarriages have also been reported following heavy physical labor or abuse related to the sex of the fetus.
In one alarming case, a family reportedly refused a blood transfusion for a woman in critical condition, deeming it "haram" (forbidden or sinful).
Broader Health and Economic Crisis
The reproductive health crisis is compounded by Afghanistan's broader economic challenges.
Over 440 hospitals and clinics have closed or reduced services since international funding was cut in the past year, as reported by the United Nations and the World Health Organization.
In rural areas, clinic closures necessitate long travel times for women, leading to increased instances of unassisted home births and prolonged bleeding from complications.
An estimated 80% of pregnant and breastfeeding women in some northern provinces are malnourished, suffering from anemia, vitamin deficiencies, and low blood pressure, making safe pregnancies difficult.
Previously available birth-spacing awareness programs in rural clinics have ceased. This is due to the lack of available medicine and concerns among healthcare providers about potential repercussions from the Taliban for discussing such topics.