Birth & Midwifery in Afghanistan
RESOURCES FOR PARENTS AND PRACTITIONERS

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Midwifery Today Country Contact

Sharon Craig, CPM, is a Midwife Trainer and Advisor working in Afghanistan. Sharon has worked as a midwife in Russia, the Philippines, California and Afghanistan. In 2005, Sharon opened the maternity ward in Kabul's CURE International Hospital, and opened the Maternity Service in the Family Health Center in the summer of 2006. Her current focus is on community-based health education on healthy pregnancy, birth and newborns.

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Birth/Midwifery

About birth in Afghanistan

• www.who.int
  
  • In 2003, 14% of births were with a skilled attendant
  • 1900/100,000 maternal mortality (in one region, 6500/100,000, which is the highest recorded maternal mortality rate in the world)
  • 25% child mortality (by age 5)
• Afghanistan's maternal and child mortality rates soar
• Afghanistan is among worst places on globe to be pregnant
• High Maternal Mortality Ratio in Herat Province, Afghanistan First Data-Driven Survey Details Health Crisis for Afghan Mothers
  • full research report
• Afghan Midwives Association admitted to International Confederation of Midwives
• The Birth of Hope, March 2004 article on birth in Afghanistan

Education

• Merlin—midwifery training
• HealthNet International—developed the Community Midwife Training Program
• International Midwife Assistance