‘I gave birth in the street“: Conflict makes childbirth risky in parts of Africa
Summary
In the Central African Republic, many women face dangerous childbirth conditions due to ongoing conflict and weak health systems. Cuts in humanitarian aid, including U.S. funding to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), have reduced access to maternal healthcare and increased risks for pregnant women.Key Facts
- A woman named Maude Ahmad Fadala gave birth in the street in a refugee camp without medical help due to lack of facilities.
- Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest rate of maternal deaths, with around 182,000 women dying each year from pregnancy-related causes.
- Nearly two-thirds of maternal deaths globally happen in countries affected by conflict or instability.
- In the Central African Republic, women are 40 times more likely to die in childbirth than those in the United States.
- Internal conflict has weakened the country’s health system and limited available services, especially outside major cities.
- The Central African Republic's government started a plan in 2024 to increase maternal healthcare spending but has not reported on progress.
- U.S. cuts to funding of the UNFPA have led to closure of midwife jobs, “safe spaces” for pregnant women, and health facilities in areas like Birao.
- UNFPA's budget in the country has been cut by half in the last two years, leaving it as the only provider of reproductive health products.
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