I believe that the  feminist perspective that is the best choice of theory to use in examining infant and maternal mortality in Afghanistan. Feminist theorists look at how one’s gender impacts the situation they are in. This theory looks at inequalities that are faced due to gender. Additionally, this theory looks if gender plays a role in receiving different types of care or if there are gender based barriers to care (Lecture Introducing Theory 5: Feminist Theory )  . Infant and maternal mortality can be also looked at through the third wave of feminism, which focused on issues of gender asymmetry (Dominguez).
 In Afghanistan, there is a very clear gender divide in their society today. Women in Afghan society today are seriously restricted due to their gender. However this wasn’t always the case. Previously, freedom for women was promoted, female education was encouraged and laws were created that abolished child marriage and forced marriage. During this time, women could work as teachers, doctors and scientists.  This all changed during and after the Taliban’s rule. Women now were forbidden to go to work, could not leave the house without a male family member escorting them and were denied a formal education. In fact, female literacy rate is only about 17% in Afghanistan. Since women are denied an education they cannot properly educate themselves about their own health. The feminist perspective looks at how people face inequalities due to their gender. Women in this country clearly are significantly impacted due to the fact they are female. Because they are female, they cannot go to school, have a job or even get medical treatment if a male family member is not escorting them. In Afghan culture women are only allowed to be treated by a female attendant . In fact, according to one doctor in Afghanistan, some men world rather their wives die than be treated by a male doctor. Additionally, Afghan women face physical and emotional abuse from both their husband and parent – in – laws. About 80% of women faced domestic violence and 80% of all suicides in Afghanistan are committed by women.  Gender plays a huge role in the type of care that one receives. 

This is all a never ending loop. Because they are female, women are denied a formal education. Due to a lack of education, women cannot find a job even if they were allowed to. In a health care setting, especially for pregnancy and childbirth, this would mean that there are rarely going to be trained, professional doctors, nurses or other health care attendants that are female. This would mean that there are almost no medical professionals that a women could go for treatment because in Afghan culture women should only be treated by another female.  This is probably one of the leading causes of Afghanistan’s extremely high maternal and infant mortality. It is estimated about five hundred thousand women die each year from pregnancy and childbirth and about 108.5 infant deaths per 1,000 live births. Bye examining infant and maternal mortality through a feministic point of view we can examine the detrimental effects of gender and its role in health. 

Dominguez, Johnna. “Feminist Anthropology.” Anthropology, 24 Apr. 2017, anthropology.ua.edu/theory/feminist-anthropology/.

“Lecture Introducing Thoery 5: Feminist Theory” ANP 270,

http://anthropology.msu.edu/anp270-us19/files/2019/05/ANP-270-Week1Lecture6.pdf