Afghanistan's foremost OB-GYN says the country is in a maternal health crisis
Afghanistan's foremost OB-GYN says the country is in a maternal health crisis

Dr. Najmussama Shefajo’s clinic was flooded with new patients after the Taliban banned women from nursing and midwife training courses back in December.
Read the full article on CBS World
Truth Analysis
Analysis Summary:
The article's claim about a maternal health crisis in Afghanistan seems plausible given the context, but the provided sources offer limited direct verification. The specific claim about Dr. Shefajo's clinic being flooded after the Taliban's ban is not directly verifiable with the provided sources, making the accuracy mixed. The article likely has a moderate bias due to the focus on a negative outcome and the lack of alternative perspectives.
Detailed Analysis:
- Claim:** Afghanistan's foremost OB-GYN says the country is in a maternal health crisis.
- Verification Source #1: Suggests Afghanistan has invested in midwives to address maternal health, implying a pre-existing concern.
- Verification Source #2: Mentions gender issues in healthcare, which could relate to maternal health in Afghanistan.
- Verification Source #3: Focuses on postpartum hemorrhage in Kabul, indicating potential maternal health challenges.
- Analysis:* While these sources don't directly confirm a "crisis," they point to existing maternal health challenges in Afghanistan, lending plausibility to the claim.
- Claim:** Dr. Najmussama Shefajo's clinic was flooded with new patients after the Taliban banned women from nursing and midwife training courses back in December.
- Analysis:* None of the provided sources directly verify this claim. This includes the specific detail about the clinic being "flooded" or the direct causal link to the Taliban's ban. This is a significant unverified claim.
- Internal Knowledge:* Given the Taliban's policies and their impact on women's access to education and healthcare, it is plausible that such a ban would negatively impact maternal healthcare access and potentially increase patient load at remaining clinics. However, without direct verification, this remains speculative.
Supporting Evidence/Contradictions:
- Verification Source #1: "Afghanistan has made large investments in scaling up the number of midwives to address access to skilled care and the high burden of maternal and newborn..." This supports the idea that maternal health is a recognized issue in Afghanistan.
- Verification Source #3: "To determine the prevalence, related factors and maternal outcomes of primary PPH in governmental hospitals in Kabul Afghanistan." This highlights a specific maternal health concern (postpartum hemorrhage) in the capital.
- Lack of Coverage:* None of the sources directly confirm the claim about Dr. Shefajo's clinic or the direct impact of the Taliban's ban.