**Ukraine’s Mothers Forced Underground Amid Ongoing Conflict**
As Ukraine marks three years since Russia’s invasion, the country’s maternal health is in crisis. The constant threat of missiles and drone attacks puts pregnant women and their newborns at risk. In areas near the front line, the challenges are even greater.
**A Mother’s Dilemma**
Ira, a 31-year-old mother, faced a terrifying decision when she discovered she was pregnant with triplets. Living in Kherson Oblast, a region targeted by nighttime assaults, she and her husband had to choose between enduring the pregnancy amid constant shelling or uprooting their lives. Ira gave birth prematurely, but her babies recovered and were able to leave the hospital.
**Maternal Health in Crisis**
According to 2023 data, the national rate of preterm births is around 6%. However, in hard-hit regions like Kherson Oblast, that rate rises to 11.8% – nearly double the national average. The region also has the highest stillbirth rate in Ukraine.
**Bomb-Proof Maternity Wards**
To address these challenges, facilities in Kharkiv and Kherson are setting up reinforced underground units designed to protect women in labor from shelling. These structures, supported by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), allow full perinatal services to continue even during attacks.
**Brave Medical Teams**
Medical teams in vulnerable areas are brave, with some choosing not to leave despite the dangers. They know their departure could mean an absence of care for expectant mothers who decide to stay in their hometowns.
**Psychological Distress and GBV**
The war has also led to widespread psychological distress, with 63% of households in Ukraine reporting at least one mental health challenge. The added stress can increase the risk of complications and postpartum disorders. Economic uncertainty and relentless fear fuel intimate partner violence, domestic abuse, and sexual exploitation.
**A Lasting Solution**
Safeguarding women’s health is essential for any nation’s future. Ensuring safe births today means ensuring a resilient generation tomorrow. By constructing bomb-proof maternity wards, delivering comprehensive healthcare, and expanding mental health and GBV services, Ukraine can mitigate some of the conflict’s harshest effects.
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