Afghanistan Ranks Fifth Globally in Obstetric Fistula Cases, UNFPA Reports

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has announced that Afghanistan ranks fifth worldwide in the number of obstetric fistula cases, with approximately 15,000 Afghan women and girls living with this serious childbirth-related injury.

In a message posted on its social media platform X, the agency stated that obstetric fistula continues to cause disability, severe health complications, and social isolation for thousands of women and girls in the country. According to UNFPA, many affected individuals are prevented from leading normal lives and participating in society due to physical consequences and social pressures.

UNFPA emphasized that prevention and treatment of this condition depend on broad access to quality health services, safe surgical interventions, and the provision of essential medical equipment and facilities. This comes at a time when Afghanistan’s healthcare system has faced significant challenges in recent years, and restrictions on women’s access to healthcare in some areas have heightened concerns.

Obstetric fistula usually results from prolonged or difficult labor and the lack of timely medical care. This condition can cause severe physical and psychological damage and, if left untreated, can have a lasting impact on an individual’s life.