14% Is the number of births attended by skilled health staff in Afghanistan. Health indicators for women are among the worst in the world.

March 5, 2007 - Only 14% of all births are attended by skilled health staff in Afghanistan**. Health indicators for Afghan women are among the worst in the world, particularly in the areas of child health and women’s reproductive health. World Bank study documents that almost half of all deaths among women of reproductive age are a result of pregnancy and childbirth. More than 75% of these deaths are preventable.

**Source: Gender Stats (A compilation of data from national statistics, United Nations databases, and World Bank-conducted or funded surveys.) Data is for 2004.

SELECTED HEALTH INDICATORS

Year 2004	Afghanistan	South Asia	Low Income Countries

Total fertility rates (births per woman)	7.2	3.1	3.7

Contraceptive prevalence (% of women aged 15-49)	10	46	40

Births attended by skilled health staff (% of total births)	14	36	40

Child malnutrition prevalence, weight for age (% of children under 5)	39	49	43

Gender Stats for Afghanistan

Results on the Ground

Almost 6 million people in rural areas of Afghanistan now have access to primary health care. The World Bank is helping improve primary health care which in turn, will decrease child and maternal mortality rates. One health project has already helped 6 million people in rural areas get have access to primary health care, many for the first time. Read More.

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SELECTED HEALTH INDICATORS

Results on the Ground

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