Cleaning and preparing the house before Eid is one of Afghanistan’s long-standing traditions. Many women in Afghanistan still carry out this exhausting work without taking breaks. The tradition is considered so important among Afghan women that even pregnant women, despite being aware of the potential risks, continue to carry out pre-Eid house cleaning several times a year without hesitation.
Zarina, a 33-year-old resident of Kunduz who is seven months pregnant, says that nonstop house cleaning and housework have left her feeling increasingly weak and exhausted.
“I do not take breaks while doing housework; even if I do, it is only for one or two hours. Housework causes body aches, leg pain, back pain, hand pain, and even lowers blood pressure. Since I started working more, there are times when my baby moves excessively,” she says.
Shabnam Rahmati, a 34-year-old resident of Kabul who is five months pregnant, says the heavy burden of pre-Eid house cleaning has caused fatigue, back pain, physical problems, and sleep disturbances. She adds,
“Because of housework, pre-Eid cleaning, washing carpets, and other heavy items, I am suffering from back and leg pain. Working is difficult. I work so much during the day that I cannot sleep at night because of the pain. I also feel that my baby is not moving as much.”
Khadija, a 40-year-old resident of Parwan, also says that as Eid approaches, housework increases, and despite her pregnancy and severe exhaustion, she has to continue pre-Eid house cleaning without taking breaks. She adds that because men are occupied with outside work and farming, they are unable to participate in household tasks, leaving most of the heavy household responsibilities to women and girls in the family.
“I am four months pregnant, and today is the first day I started the housework. Because I want to finish the work quickly, I do not take breaks. I have body aches and back pain. I just finished washing clothes, and I am extremely tired and exhausted. The men are busy with farming work, so they do not have time to help at home,” she adds.
Meanwhile, doctors warn that heavy and continuous work, as well as lifting heavy objects—especially for pregnant women—can have serious and dangerous consequences for the health of both the mother and the baby. According to doctors, such work can lead to problems such as delayed fetal growth, miscarriage, low blood pressure, joint pain, back pain, herniated disc, and even premature birth.
Zarghona Muhabbat, a gynecology and obstetrics specialist, emphasizes that women should be cautious about heavy work and pre-Eid house cleaning, especially lifting heavy weights, from the moment pregnancy is confirmed until childbirth. She adds,
“Even if only two or three weeks have passed since the beginning of pregnancy, women should not lift heavy objects and should pay close attention to their own health and that of their fetus. The problems caused by lifting heavy weights during pregnancy can be irreversible. In some cases, it may even lead to fetal death in the womb. Therefore, women are advised to be extremely careful while doing house cleaning tasks.”
Abeda Raha, another gynecology and obstetrics specialist, describes heavy work during pregnancy as one of the causes of miscarriage and says it can halt fetal growth and even result in stillbirth. She says,
“The first three months of pregnancy carry the greatest risk, and studies have shown that one of the causes of fetal death is excessive and heavy work performed by the mother during pregnancy. This prevents the fetus from developing properly and may lead to fetal death. Some medical books state that 24% of miscarriages are caused by heavy work, while 15% of premature births are linked to such heavy works.”
Meanwhile, some orthopedic specialists also warn about the negative consequences of heavy work on pregnant women, saying it can cause joint and muscle pain, back pain, pressure on the knees, and muscle strain. Fawad Omar, an orthopedic specialist, says,
“Heavy work can be dangerous for pregnant women. Lifting heavy weights during pregnancy can put both the mother and the fetus at risk. If the mother repeatedly bends down and stands up or lifts heavy loads, she may develop back and joint pain; in such cases, there is a 50% chance of developing a herniated disc. In addition, pressure is placed on the uterus. When the uterus and abdomen are under pressure—especially during the first trimester—it may result in miscarriage or premature labor.”
Women continue to carry out these difficult tasks even though many basic facilities for women, especially pregnant women, are still not available even in urban areas of Afghanistan. Specialists say that to reduce the risks associated with pre-Eid house cleaning and other heavy housework, pregnant women should use supportive belts, rest every 30 to 40 minutes, maintain a healthy diet, and avoid lifting more than 10 kilograms while working.
Reporter: Farhat Ayoobi
