Training Midwives in Afghanistan

As part of Action for Development’s Maternal Health Strategy, the Midwifery Training Programme continues to strengthen the skills and confidence of Afghanistan midwives to improve women’s access to quality maternal healthcare. This update summarizes findings from a follow-up survey conducted in September 2025 with midwives who completed the training conducted in 2024.

Survey and Participation

In September 2025, our midwife training coordinator reached out to all 40 midwives via online survey link which was sent to the telephone numbers they had provided at the time of training. Only 7% of the midwvives replid back. When we tried to call each of the trained midwives, we found out that three of them had left the country, and majority of the numbers did not anymore belong to the trained midwives of our cohort. Despite connectivity limitations, 7 midwives (18%) successfully completed an online follow-up survey designed to better understand the employment status of midwives, continuing learning needs and perceptions of maternal health among their patients. All respondents were based in Kabul and currently working in hospitals or clinics.

Key Findings

Employment and Working Conditions

• 100% of respondents are employed within healthcare settings.
• 57% (4 out of 7) reported working without formal employment contracts, confirming ongoing challenges of voluntary or informal work arrangements.
• The majority (71%) are young midwives (18–24 years) — an age group more likely to engage through online tools.

Learning Confidence and Needs

Midwives expressed strong confidence in:

• Antenatal and postnatal care
• Maternal nutrition
• Mental health
• Management of sexually transmitted diseases

Priority areas identified for further training include:

• Breech and obstructive deliveries
• Pre-eclampsia
• Fistula
• Shock and hemorrhage
• Newborn and infant health management

Challenges in Maternal Health Service Delivery

Midwives continue to face major barriers:

• Limited equipment, medicines, and manpower
• Restricted access for women and girls to health services, especially in remote areas
• Poor economic conditions and under-resourced training systems

Resources and Support Requested

Midwives called for:

• More educational and life-skills training for women and girls
• Access to medical resources and blood donations
• Ongoing professional training and financial investment in women’s health
• 100% expressed strong interest in e-learning opportunities, noting that they have access to mobile technology.

Next Steps

Action for Development will:

• Deliver two-day refresher trainings focused on complex clinical topics (breech birth, eclampsia, hemorrhage, and fistula).
• Develop an e-learning midwifery module to expand access to continued professional development.
• Continue advocacy and fundraising to sustain the Maternal Health Strategy in collaboration with our midwife network, donors, and partners.

Action for Development remains committed to empowering Afghanistan's midwives and improving maternal health outcomes through ongoing training, resource support, and innovation in learning access.

Your support can make a lasting difference in safeguarding the lives of women and their newborns in Afghanistan. By contributing regularly to Action for Development’s Midwifery Training Programme, you help equip dedicated midwives with the essential knowledge, skills, and resources they need to deliver safe, quality maternal care — even in the most challenging conditions. Every donation enables continued professional training, lifesaving equipment, and the expansion of e-learning opportunities, ensuring that no woman or child is left without care.

Join us in empowering Afghanistan’s midwives to build healthier, more resilient communities.