Health in Helmand, Afghanistan: official figures
52.4% of the most recent births in Helmand in the two years before the 2022-23 survey were attended by a doctor, nurse or midwife, 7th lowest of the 34 provinces, and 51.6% took place in a health facility (Afghanistan: 67.5% and 66.3%).
Do pregnant women in Helmand get antenatal care?
74.5% of married women in Helmand who gave birth in the two years before the survey saw a skilled health worker at least once during pregnancy, 16th highest of the 34 provinces (Afghanistan: 76.4%).
Source: UNICEF Afghanistan in collaboration with the National Statistics and Information Authority (NSIA) · saved copyHow many children in Helmand are vaccinated?
11.4% of children aged 24 to 35 months in Helmand had all basic vaccines (BCG, polio, DTP and measles) in 2022-23, 8th lowest of the 34 provinces, and 34.8% had no vaccinations at all (Afghanistan: 32.1% and 26.4%).
Source: UNICEF Afghanistan in collaboration with the National Statistics and Information Authority (NSIA) · saved copyHow many children in Helmand are malnourished?
51.7% of children under five in Helmand were stunted (too short for their age, a sign of long-term undernutrition) in 2022-23, 8th highest of the 34 provinces; 5.1% were wasted (too thin for their height) (Afghanistan: 44.7% and 3.7%).
Source: UNICEF Afghanistan in collaboration with the National Statistics and Information Authority (NSIA) · saved copyHow many children die young in Helmand?
The 2022-23 MICS estimates that for every 1,000 babies born in Helmand in the five years before the survey, 55 died before their first birthday and 74 before their fifth; the under-five rate is 5th highest of the 34 provinces (Afghanistan: 46 and 55). Province-level rates rest on few deaths and are uncertain.
Source: UNICEF Afghanistan in collaboration with the National Statistics and Information Authority (NSIA) · saved copyHow Helmand compares with other provinces
Births attended by a skilled health worker (2022-23)
Helmand ranks 28 of 34, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Births attended by a skilled health worker |
|---|---|---|
| 25 | Faryab | 58.6% |
| 26 | Laghman | 57.5% |
| 27 | Farah | 54.7% |
| 28 | Helmand | 52.4% |
| 29 | Zabul | 49.1% |
| 30 | Badakhshan | 48.2% |
| 31 | Uruzgan | 36.7% |
Children under 5 stunted (2022-23)
Helmand ranks 8 of 34, highest first.
| Rank | Region | Children under 5 stunted |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Kandahar | 58.9% |
| 6 | Badakhshan | 58.0% |
| 7 | Badghis | 54.1% |
| 8 | Helmand | 51.7% |
| 9 | Samangan | 51.3% |
| 10 | Paktika | 51.1% |
| 11 | Kunar | 50.9% |
More on Helmand: overview · economy and jobs · education and schools · poverty and living standards · Afghanistan
Sources
- UNICEF Afghanistan in collaboration with the National Statistics and Information Authority (NSIA): Afghanistan Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) 2022-23, Survey Findings Report (province tables), read 27 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 1469591017d8…)
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