The United Nations Population Fund in Afghanistan says the country ranks fifth globally in the number of childbirth fistula cases, highlighting another major challenge facing Afghanistan’s fragile healthcare system.
According to the organization, around 15,000 Afghan women and girls are currently living with childbirth fistula, a serious medical condition linked to difficult or prolonged labor.
In a statement posted on X, the UN agency said birth fistula continues to cause disability, severe health complications, and social isolation for thousands of women and girls across Afghanistan.
The organization stressed that prevention and treatment require broader access to healthcare services, safe surgical procedures, and essential medical equipment.
Childbirth fistula usually develops after prolonged or obstructed labor without timely medical care and can cause long-term physical and psychological suffering.
Health experts say poverty, the shortage of medical facilities, limited healthcare services in remote areas, and restrictions affecting women’s access to treatment are among the main causes behind the growing number of cases in Afghanistan.
International organizations have repeatedly warned that Afghanistan’s healthcare system, particularly services related to women and maternal care, remains one of the country’s most serious humanitarian challenges.
