Alia Mohammed – Women in Development and Peace
Reproductive health is a crucial aspect of overall health, significantly impacting quality of life and well-being. In Yemen, this sector faces immense challenges due to economic deterioration and ongoing conflict, leading to a decline in reproductive health services.
Estimates indicate that 47% of pregnant women do not receive adequate healthcare, exacerbating health risks associated with pregnancy and childbirth. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the maternal mortality rate in Yemen reaches 385 deaths per 100,000 live births, one of the highest rates globally.
This situation necessitates urgent interventions to improve reproductive health services in Yemen by strengthening healthcare for pregnant women and providing necessary services to ensure their safety and the safety of their children.
Several economic factors significantly impact reproductive health in Yemen. The country suffers from ongoing conflict and severe economic deterioration. These economic factors include poverty, high unemployment rates, lack of health services, high healthcare costs, and malnutrition. Deteriorating economic conditions lead to food shortages and increasing malnutrition rates among pregnant and breastfeeding women. Family planning services have declined, access to information is difficult, and gender-based violence has increased.
The Reality of the Healthcare Sector
Since 2015, Yemen has experienced a significant deterioration in its healthcare sector. Infrastructure has suffered severely, leading to the closure of numerous hospitals and health centers. These facilities cannot provide necessary services due to lack of funding, staff shortages, limited supplies and equipment, and an inability to cover operating costs.
According to the WHO, 5.5 million women and girls of reproductive age in Yemen have limited access to reproductive health services. Only one in five remaining health facilities can provide maternal and newborn care. A report by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in 2023 estimated that “one woman dies during childbirth every two hours in Yemen”.
Furthermore, family planning services have declined significantly, affecting women’s access to contraception.
In a related context, Najib Ghanim’s study, published by Aba’ad Center for Studies and Research and titled “Challenges of the Health Sector in the Republic of Yemen; The Unequal Confrontation,” highlighted the limited and nonexistent access of pregnant and breastfeeding women to reproductive health services, including antenatal and postnatal care, emergency obstetric care, and newborn care.
Difficult Access to Reproductive Health Services
Yemen’s economic deterioration has led to a GDP decline and unemployment and poverty rates. Many families struggle to afford reproductive health services. These conditions have increased the suffering of women and mothers during pregnancy and childbirth; many are unable to receive necessary healthcare.
According to the World Food Program (WFP), 6 million Yemenis require humanitarian assistance, making Yemen one of the most affected countries globally. Many Yemeni families struggle to provide food, severely impacting approximately 1.5 million pregnant and breastfeeding women in the country.
Um Jana Waddhah, a pregnant woman, recounts her struggles with severe malnutrition and underweight, a major cause of maternal mortality. Umm Jana says, “I suffered health complications during my pregnancy. Tests revealed I suffered from malnutrition and severe anemia, affecting my health and the fetus’s health. The doctor advised me to pay attention to my health and nutrition to ensure the baby’s health, but the economic situation my family and I faced after my husband lost his job was a major obstacle.”
She added, “Many families, including mine, live at a low standard of living and cannot afford even the most essential things.”
The Rising Costs of Reproductive Health Services
Reports from the World Health Organization (WHO) highlight a severe shortage of reproductive health services in Yemen. The cost of these services, including antenatal and postnatal care, exceeds the capacity of many families. The high prices of medications and nutritional supplements needed by pregnant women further exacerbate their suffering.
These costs negatively impact the health of pregnant women, forcing many to forgo routine healthcare, and exposing them to significant health risks during pregnancy and childbirth. According to local and international reports, a high percentage of maternal and neonatal deaths are attributed to a lack of adequate healthcare.
The case of A. M. A., diagnosed with an ectopic pregnancy after her fourth month, illustrates the problem. She was forced to have an abortion to save her life, but couldn’t afford the procedure, her life remaining at risk until her husband secured the necessary funds from charitable organizations.
Um Alin Fuad, a mother of three expecting her fourth child, describes her struggles: “I can’t afford doctor visits or necessary medications. I worry about my baby’s health, but there’s no choice.” These words reflect the immense pressure faced by many pregnant women in Yemen due to difficult economic conditions.
A midwife working in a private hospital, who preferred anonymity, notes that “the costs of reproductive healthcare have increased significantly, varying from one facility to another. Government facilities offer services at lower costs, but these may still be beyond the reach of low-income families, while private hospitals and clinics offer services at exorbitant prices.”
She adds, “Many pregnant women prefer home births with midwives to avoid the high costs of centers and hospitals.” She confirms that some women only see a doctor once and cannot monitor their pregnancies monthly due to their inability to pay for medications and necessary tests to maintain their health. She explains that poor and absent healthcare negatively affects the health of newborns; children are born in unstable conditions and suffer from numerous health problems, such as malnutrition and infectious diseases.
Regarding the reasons for the increased cost of reproductive health services, estimates indicate that Yemen lacks an integrated health system due to the ongoing conflict, which has led to the closure of numerous centers due to shortages of resources, medical equipment, and medications. The devaluation of the local currency has also contributed to the rising prices of essential materials used in maternal and prenatal care.
According to the WHO, Yemen has one of the highest child mortality rates in the region, reflecting the urgent need to improve reproductive health services. This situation requires urgent intervention from the government, civil society organizations, and international organizations to ensure the provision of basic and appropriate healthcare for women and children. Improving maternal and child health is a priority for sustainable development and requires strengthening health services, raising awareness of the importance of antenatal and postnatal care, and providing the necessary resources to support families in accessing these necessary services.
Solutions and Treatments
Numerous news reports confirm that Yemen’s deteriorating economic situation has created significant challenges affecting the lives of women and children. Urgent solutions are needed to guarantee women’s right to access necessary healthcare and to safeguard the lives of mothers and children.
Prominent solutions include strengthening reproductive health services by government agencies and civil society organizations through improving healthcare infrastructure, providing necessary resources, training medical personnel, expanding services to rural and remote areas, and raising awareness of the importance of healthcare for women and pregnant women through awareness and educational programs on reproductive health and women’s rights. These programs should encompass all age groups and target local communities to change negative cultural perceptions.
Efforts should also focus on providing free or affordable healthcare services to ensure accessibility, especially for the most vulnerable groups, and strengthening cooperation with international organizations and the international community to provide necessary assistance and improve health services.
In conclusion, reproductive health should be a guaranteed right for every woman. Under these circumstances, hope lies in the combined efforts of local and international actors to provide the necessary healthcare for women and children, contributing to improving their quality of life and ensuring a better future for generations to come.