Protecting Woman-Centred Care in a World of Crises: Why Midwives Must Be at the Centre
After the initial shock of a crisis — whether caused by conflict, climate change or natural disasters — daily life continues to unfold. Yet even as communities face devastation, life goes on. Pregnancies continue, and women and gender diverse people go into labour and give birth. A moment that should be joyful and safe turns frightening and uncertain, as giving birth becomes far more dangerous and unpredictable. More than half of maternal deaths worldwide occur in fragile and crisis-affected settings, making clear just how deadly these situations can be.
At the same time, needs rise sharply. The demand for contraception, comprehensive abortion care and treatment for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) increases, while access to these services often becomes limited or disappears entirely. Menstrual hygiene becomes harder to manage as products and safe facilities, including water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services, become scarce. Unintended pregnancies and STIs increase due to the lack of barrier methods and heightened risk of sexual violence.
