30 Jan 2026 - 10:09
The Kabul Tribune (KT) - A joint report by The Guardian and Zan Times says the Taliban’s informal ban on contraceptives in Afghanistan has had a devastating effect on women’s health. Since 2023, access to birth control pills and other contraceptives has largely disappeared, and many health centers that treated pregnancy complications and miscarriages have been closed.
Doctors and midwives in several provinces reported that medical supplies first became scarce and were then cut off entirely. Taliban fighters have reportedly ordered clinics not to distribute contraceptives, warning that facilities would be shut down if they did. Women told reporters that the lack of family planning has led to repeated pregnancies, untreated health complications, and increased household violence.
Medical staff also said that many women are physically unable to safely carry pregnancies but have no way to space or limit births. In some cases, women have resorted to unsafe methods, and midwives report a high number of miscarriages linked to malnutrition, hard labor, and violence.
The report emphasizes that these restrictions and the closure of clinics have created a serious public health crisis for Afghan women.
