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Fighting against cervical cancer

Women's health

An estimated 99 per cent of women who die in childbirth or from pregnancy-related complications live in developing countries. Most of these deaths are preventable.

Be it in conflict, in a natural disaster, a disease outbreak, or in an HIV programme - women are in need of specific care. Reproductive healthcare is an integral part of the medical care we provide, including in emergencies. In areas where maternal death is high, such as in Afghanistan or the Central African Republic, we've opened specific projects to provide care to women. The five main causes of maternal death are haemorrhage, sepsis, unsafe abortion, complications linked to high blood pressure, and obstructed labour.

For information on safe abortion care, please visit our dedicated page.

Women's Health

Quick Facts

 
"Because Tomorrow Needs Her" communications project - Unsafe abortion in Haiti
Women's health

The Mexico City Policy endangers women's lives

Statement 26 Jan 2017
 
Photo Story

A day at the general rural hospital in Thi As Sufal district

14 Jan 2017
Photo Story
 
Mobile clinic in Borgulia, Tal Afar district, Iraq
Iraq

New maternity clinic ensures women deliver safely in Tal Maraq in the northwestern district of Tal Afar

Project Update 4 Jan 2017
 
Hepatitis E Outbreak, Chad, Dec 2016.
Chad

MSF teams treating and preventing hepatitis E in Am Timan

Project Update 14 Dec 2016
 
Libya

Providing healthcare to detained refugees and migrants

Project Update 14 Dec 2016
 
Mother & Child Care centre in Majdal Anjar, Bekaa, Lebanon
Lebanon

"I still remember the first child born at our centre - her name was Ghazal"

Voices from the Field 2 Dec 2016
 
East Aleppo
Syria

Crisis update — 28 November 2016

Crisis Update 29 Nov 2016
 
Pregnancy in east Aleppo
Syria

Pregnancy and childbirth in besieged east Aleppo

Voices from the Field 29 Nov 2016
 
Healthcare in Boguila, Central African Republic
Central African Republic

Testimonies from MSF patients and staff

Voices from the Field 16 Nov 2016
5000 Children of Adele (EN)
video

5000 Children of Adele (EN)

The 5000 children of Adele

Adele is a Central African midwife in the country's biggest maternity ward in Bangui.

This is the story of what it's like to help deliver babies under gunshots, but also what it means to be a woman in a country with one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world.

fieldresearch.msf.org

We produce important research based on our field experience. So far, we have published articles in over 100 peer-reviewed journals. These articles have often changed clinical practice and have been used for humanitarian advocacy. Read all our Women's Health-related articles on our dedicated Field Research website.

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Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF)