Health experts consider the ages of 11 to 14 to be the most critical stage of physical development. However, in Afghanistan, most girls at this age lack access to balanced and high-quality nutrition. Girls face not only economic hardships but also challenges caused by limited awareness, harmful traditional beliefs, and family neglect.
In rural areas, many girls do not have access to sufficient food due to economic difficulties and are often unable to consume nutritious meals. As a result, they suffer from deficiencies in calcium, iron, vitamins, and other essential nutrients. Doctors say these deficiencies not only harm their physical health but also negatively affect their mental well-being, education, sleep, and even personality development.
Many of these girls, after marriage, face dangerous and various health problems during pregnancy because of weak and unhealthy bodies. A serious concern is that in remote areas of Afghanistan, nutritional discrimination between boys and girls still exists. This behavior is not only unfair and rooted in harmful traditions but also contradicts the principles of Islam.
Marwa, a 13-year-old girl, complains not only about poor economic conditions but also about discrimination within her family regarding food distribution between sons and daughters. She says, “To be honest, our economic situation is very bad. But even when nutritious food is brought home, my mother gives it to my brother. She says, ‘He should eat this to become strong—he is a man of the desert, while you stay at home.’”
On the other hand, some girls themselves show little interest in healthy homemade food and prefer unhealthy street or market foods, which further harms their health. Somaya, a 12-year-old from Chaparhar district in Nangarhar, says,
“I don’t like the foods and vegetables cooked at home. I buy fried foods from the market for myself. I even went to a doctor who told me that eating this way weakens my immune system and I may face many problems. But I don’t follow the doctor’s advice and still buy and eat whatever I want from the market. I can’t stop.”
These behaviors and circumstances have also worried mothers. Some mothers say that despite continuous efforts, they have not found effective solutions to these problems. Hasina, a resident of Nangarhar, speaks about her 18-year-old daughter, who became sick because she did not receive proper nutrition during childhood. She says,
“My daughter is 18 years old. When she was little, she either had a loss of appetite, disliked her food or refused to eat it. Now that she is older, she faces many health problems—anemia, calcium deficiency, poor eyesight, and constant fatigue. Doctors say her body did not receive the nutrients it needed at that time, which is why she suffers today.”
Nasrin, another mother, is also concerned about her children’s health. She says that despite her efforts, her daughters avoid healthy food and prefer low-quality market meals. She says, “I always try to prepare healthy food for my children, but unfortunately they do not eat it willingly. They ask for market food instead, and they keep getting sick because of it.”
Doctors say that if a girl does not receive sufficient and balanced nutrition from childhood through puberty, she is likely to suffer from anemia and deficiencies in vitamins, magnesium, sodium, and calcium later in life, increasing her risk of various diseases.
Arefa Rahmati, an obstetrician-gynecologist and nutrition consultant, says regarding this, “If young girls do not receive proper nutrition during childhood, they will themselves suffer from malnutrition when they become mothers, and the children they give birth to may also be malnourished. Proper nutrition during childhood and adolescence leads to healthy mother and healthy child, and ultimately a healthy society.”
Farhat Naz, another obstetrician-gynecologist with years of experience in women’s health, says that poor nutrition during adolescence can lead to multiple health problems and may even reduce fertility after marriage. She adds,
“If a girl does not receive proper nutrition, she may not be able to become a healthy mother after marriage. Pregnancy can be difficult for her, and even if she conceives with medical assistance, she may remain anemic. An anemic mother is likely to have a very weak child, with lower chances of survival and good health.”
General physicians also consider vegetables, fruits, meat, milk, eggs, fish, and other fresh foods essential sources of healthy nutrition, while frequent consumption of outside foods—especially oily meals—is harmful to health. Health experts emphasize that during these sensitive years of growth, girls must have access to nutritious, vitamin-rich foods, regular physical activity, and timely health counseling so their bodies remain healthy and protected from disease.
Reporter: Shahnaz Rahimi
