Skip to main content
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

 
Peshawar Women Hospital
Pakistan

Increasing newborn babies' chances of survival

Project Update 8 Nov 2018
 
Midwife Story
Ethiopia

A name full of hope

Voices from the Field 30 Oct 2018
 
Khost - Neonatal
Afghanistan

“My sister, I will take care of you”

Voices from the Field 3 Oct 2018
 
Khost Comic Images
Afghanistan

Illustrating MSF’s busiest maternity ward

Project Update 3 Oct 2018
 
Pregnant and HIV+ Mamotsieleli Molofotsane walks many hours to health center, Lesotho
Women's health

"I’ve seen with my own eyes, safe abortion saves women's lives"

Interview 27 Sep 2018
 
MSF activities in Masisi
Democratic Republic of Congo

48 hours on the frontline of maternity care

msf.org 24 Sep 2018
 
Sexual and reproductive healthcare in Mrima Hospital
Photo Story

Tales from MSF’s ‘Container Village’ in Likoni

16 Aug 2018
Photo Story
 
Sexual and Reproductive Health in the Community
Bangladesh

“This feels more like an emergency room than a normal delivery room”

Project Update 23 May 2018
 
Listening spaces in Diffa
Niger

In Diffa, listening spaces have been set up for and by women from the community

msf.lu 4 May 2018
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.

Visit site
Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF)