What is it about?
The study documents how midwives supported women giving birth in tents, shelters, and amid rubble, under continuous bombardment and severe shortages of healthcare resources. Despite fear, displacement, and personal risk to themselves and their families, they continued to provide compassionate and lifesaving care, often as the only skilled health professionals available. The findings highlight their remarkable courage, resilience, adaptability, and critical thinking in extremely unimaginable conditions.
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Photo by Mohammed Ibrahim on Unsplash
Why is it important?
The study also calls for stronger emergency preparedness, better training and support for midwives in humanitarian settings, and the protection of civilians and healthcare workers under international humanitarian law. What we learned from this study goes beyond one context; it speaks to global maternal health and emergency preparedness everywhere.
Perspectives
I will never forget our phone calls while conducting the interviews, and how the first questions were always: “Did you eat today? Do you have anything to eat? How did you manage to reach the place?” These simple questions carried the weight of daily survival. They captured the harsh reality people were living, while also revealing the extraordinary strength and determination of those who continued their work despite everything. These conversations stayed with me throughout this research journey, constantly reminding me that this study is not only about maternal health during war, but also about humanity, resilience, and the extraordinary courage of Palestinian midwives in Gaza.
Sahar Hassan
Birzeit University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Birth in shelters: Midwives’ lived experiences in providing childbirth care amidst war in Gaza, PLOS One, May 2026, PLOS,
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0339551.
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