Background & aim: Afghanistan continues to experience one of the highest maternal mortality rates worldwide, largely attributable to insufficient antenatal and postnatal care coverage. Persistent social, economic, cultural, and demographic barriers hinder many women from accessing essential maternal health services. This study aimed to evaluate the utilization of maternal care among Afghan women and to explore its association with provincial-level development indicators. Methods: This quantitative study utilized secondary data from the 2015 Afghanistan Demographic and Health Survey (ADHS). The analysis included 19,888 ever-married women aged 15–49 who had given birth within the previous five years. Descriptive statistics and Pearson’s correlation tests were conducted using SPSS version 27 (α = 0.05) to examine associations between maternal care utilization and provincial-level socioeconomic and development indicators. Results: The findings revealed that fewer than half of Afghan women received at least one form of maternal care: antenatal care (47.58%), intrapartum care (49.06%), and postnatal care (32.31%). A significant positive association was observed between the level of maternal care and provincial development indicators, including female literacy rate, urbanization, and access to basic infrastructure such as drinking water and electricity. Conversely, an inverse relationship was identified between maternal care utilization and infant and child mortality rates. Conclusion: Maternal care coverage in Afghanistan remains alarmingly low, reflecting deep-rooted regional and socioeconomic disparities. Targeted policy interventions are urgently needed to expand maternal healthcare services and address structural inequalities, particularly in underdeveloped provinces such as Nuristan, Kunar, Daikundi, and Badghis.
Sorush, W. & Torkashvand Moradabadi, M. (2026). Pregnancy care of mothers in Afghanistan. Journal of Midwifery and Reproductive Health, (), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.22038/jmrh.2026.84712.2563
MLA
Sorush, W., & Torkashvand Moradabadi, M. "Pregnancy care of mothers in Afghanistan", Journal of Midwifery and Reproductive Health, , 2026, 1–8. doi: 10.22038/jmrh.2026.84712.2563
HARVARD
Sorush, W., & Torkashvand Moradabadi, M. (2026). 'Pregnancy care of mothers in Afghanistan', Journal of Midwifery and Reproductive Health, (), pp. 1–8. doi: 10.22038/jmrh.2026.84712.2563
CHICAGO
Sorush, W. & Torkashvand Moradabadi, M., "Pregnancy care of mothers in Afghanistan." Journal of Midwifery and Reproductive Health, (2026): 1–8, doi: 10.22038/jmrh.2026.84712.2563
VANCOUVER
Sorush W., Torkashvand Moradabadi M. Pregnancy care of mothers in Afghanistan. JMRH. 2026;():1–8. doi: 10.22038/jmrh.2026.84712.2563
