The maternal mortality rate in Iran is estimated at 23.7 per 100,000 lives in 2022.  Although the maternal health indicators appear good at an aggregate national level, maternal mortality is higher in certain provinces. Reproductive morbidities, including cancer and infertility among couples, are on the rise. Life-course infertility is on the rise and is estimated at 16 percent for primary infertility.  It has been estimated that more than 50 percent of women with cervical cancer have never been screened. The persistently high rates of cesarean sections (up to 72 percent in Tehran) remain an area of significant concern, given the associated health risks. While evidence suggests that midwives who are equipped with adequate skills and competencies according to international standards can provide 87 percent of the needed essential care for women and their newborns, the great potential of midwives in the Islamic Republic of Iran should be further utilized.

Strengthening the capacity of health systems to deliver high-quality integrated maternal and women-friendly services is one of the main focuses of UNFPA Iran.  We support our main partner, the Ministry of Health and Medical Education, to strengthen the capacity of maternal health service providers and midwives, to promote positive childbearing experiences and natural childbirth; and to provide technical assistance for the development of evidence-based guidelines in the management of emerging health issues affecting women, including maternal morbidities, reproductive cancers, and infertility.