Bleeding and Birthing in Conflict: Women's Health Crisis Escalates in Gaza
In response to the challenging and unsanitary conditions resulting from the Israeli offensive in Gaza, many Palestinian women are resorting to menstruation-delaying pills. These women, facing displacement, overcrowded living conditions, and limited access to essential resources like water and menstrual hygiene products, turn to norethisterone tablets. Typically prescribed for conditions like severe menstrual bleeding, endometriosis, and painful periods, these pills provide a means for women to alleviate discomfort and pain associated with menstruation in their current circumstances.
Nevin Adnan , a psychologist and social worker, highlighted the numerous challenges women face during menstruation in times of extreme stress and displacement. The physical and psychological symptoms, including abdominal and back pain, insomnia, nervousness, and tension, become more pronounced. The scarcity of clean water and feminine hygiene products has reached alarming levels, impacting women's mental and social well-being in overcrowded shelters with restricted privacy.
Shelters lacking privacy, running water, and essential supplies force women to deal with menstrual cramps amid constant fear, sleep deprivation, and harsh living conditions. For girls experiencing their first menstruation in these circumstances, the use of period-delaying pills poses significant health risks.
The impact of the conflict disproportionately affects women and girls, subjecting them to physical and psychological challenges exacerbated by the scarcity of basic necessities. Access to clean water is a critical challenge, and neglecting menstrual hygiene in this context poses serious health risks, emphasizing the need for prioritization.
In these challenging circumstances, menstruation becomes even more formidable, with the lack of understanding about menstrual health among men and boys compounding the challenges faced by women and girls in shelters.
In the Maghazi refugee camp, Nisreen highlighted the harsh psychological and physical toll of war on women, who not only grapple with menstrual health concerns but also bear the responsibility of caring for their children amid the chaos. Nisreen acknowledged that her use of menstrual delaying pills is a coping mechanism in the short term, despite the associated risks.
The Israeli military campaign against Hamas in Gaza, lasting three months, has led to a humanitarian catastrophe, affecting around 52 000 pregnant women significantly. As airstrikes force 1.9 million people into increasingly confined spaces within the besieged enclave, the spread of disease, impending famine, and high levels of anemia pose significant risks. Postpartum hemorrhage risks have soared, and breastfeeding is often impossible. CARE International estimates that 40% of pregnancies are considered high-risk.
Prenatal care is almost nonexistent, with Gaza's hospital network overwhelmed, operating at 250% capacity and focused on treating mass casualties from Israeli bombings. More women are giving birth outside medical facilities, including displacement camps and even in the street.
Damage to facilities and communication blackouts have left Gaza's health ministry unable to compile reliable data on infant or maternal mortality during the conflict. However, doctors and aid groups report spikes in miscarriages and stillbirths.
Rondi Anderson , a midwifery specialist for the Project HOPE aid group, emphasized the difficulty of preventing pregnancy-related complications but highlighted the importance of quick treatment to save lives. Access to emergency care becomes crucial, and women without such access face higher risks.
Wissam had to find a spot of cold earth between tents to help his terrified niece deliver her baby. Aid workers hung bedsheets for privacy, and the delivery took place without being able to contact Walaa's husband. The unsterilized scalpel was used to cut the umbilical cord, and tin cans filled with hot water were used to keep the baby warm. The family shared their story with the condition that only their first names be used due to fears for their safety in case Israeli troops entered the town.
About the author:
Leisha Toory is the founder of the Period Priority Project , and an Honors in Political Science undergraduate at the University of Ottawa.
