The health system of Afghanistan is recovering from a collapse in recent decades of conflict. Many of the country’s main health outcome indicators – although improving – remain at the very bottom of the international rankings. The poor general health conditions in Afghanistan are directly related to many factors such as nutrition, access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation. Yet one of the main causes for these poor health outcomes not being overcome is the inadequate availability, access, and quality of health care services. The proportion of women using at least one method of modern family planning in Afghanistan is relatively low: only 15 percent of currently married women.

However, there were significant differences between women across different provinces. Urban areas were more likely to use modern family planning methods than those from rural areas (28 percent versus 13 percent). The overall proportion of women delivering with a skilled birth attendant is very low in Afghanistan at 24 percent. More than a third of women (37 percent) delivered in the presence of a relative or a friend. The use of traditional birth attendants is also common (33 percent). There are significant differences across provinces and among the nomadic, rural and urban populations. Afghanistan faces the challenges of a very young and rapidly growing population. 

Among other things, these challenges emerge in high and increasing demand for education, health services and basic infrastructure, as well as in growing numbers of youth entering the labor market. AFGA is one of the active national NGO would like to contribute in addressing above mentioned problems in the issue of Reproductive health and rights through its planned advocacy project. The current school health curriculum does not have any topics regarding RH and inclusion of the RH topics will increase the knowledge and awareness of students and will be prepared for responsible motherhood and fatherhood period. This will contribute to improving family planning services and women and family health in the community.