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Smartphone addiction and nomophobia widespread among Afghans, study says

The findings show that men experience moderate to severe nomophobia (93%) slightly more than women (88%), challenging previous studies that suggested differing vulnerabilities based on gender.   

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The level of smartphone addiction is widespread among Afghans who exhibit symptoms of nomophobia, the fear and anxiety of being without a mobile phone, the UK-based University of Surrey said in a study report released on Thursday.

The study, conducted by a team of international researchers, surveyed 754 undergraduate medical students, predominantly aged between 18 and 29 at the Kabul University of Medical Sciences. 

The findings show that men experience moderate to severe nomophobia (93%) slightly more than women (88%), challenging previous studies that suggested differing vulnerabilities based on gender.   

According to the report, 54% of the participants reported moderate nomophobia, while 35% exhibited severe symptoms.

"The overwhelming prevalence of nomophobia among Afghan students is not just a personal issue for the individuals; it is a reflection of the socio-political crisis in Afghanistan,” said Suleman Lazarus, lead author of the study and cybercrime expert at the University of Surrey. "In a nation where communication and connection are increasingly restricted, the smartphone becomes a lifeline, leading to heightened dependence and anxiety when separated from it."

The study also highlights the impact of marital status on nomophobia levels, with married individuals showing higher mean scores compared to their single counterparts. This unexpected finding suggests that the dynamics of personal relationships and societal expectations in Afghanistan play a significant role in shaping individuals' experiences of anxiety related to smartphone use, according to the report.

The research presents a unique lens through which to view the intersection of technology, mental health, and socio-political context in Afghanistan. With a mere 18.4% of the population actually having access to the internet, combined with a stark gender divide in access to technology itself, understanding nomophobia in this landscape is crucial for addressing mental health and societal well-being, it said.

“This study is a crucial step toward understanding the mental health implications of our technology-dependent society, particularly in regions where access to education and basic rights is severely restricted. The data we have gathered paints a vivid picture of the psychological landscape of Afghanistan today,” Lazarus said.

Health

UN warns maternal deaths in Afghanistan may rise after US funding pause

Afghanistan has one of the highest death rates in the world for pregnant women, with a mother dying of preventable pregnancy complications every two hours

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Maternal health

A United Nations aid official said on Tuesday that Washington’s funding pause would cut off millions of Afghans from sexual and reproductive health services, and that the continued absence of this support could cause over 1,000 maternal deaths in Afghanistan from 2025 to 2028.

US President Donald Trump last month ordered a 90-day pause in foreign development assistance, pending assessment of efficiencies and consistency with his foreign policy, setting alarm bells ringing among aid groups around the world that depend on US funding.

Trump has also restored US participation in international anti-abortion pacts, cutting off US family planning funds for foreign organisations providing or promoting abortion.

Pio Smith, regional director for Asia and the Pacific at the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency (UNFPA), said that over nine million people in Afghanistan would lose access to services and over 1.2 million Afghan refugees living in Pakistan would also be affected due to the closure of health facilities.

Afghanistan has one of the highest death rates in the world for pregnant women, with a mother dying of preventable pregnancy complications every two hours, he said.

"What happens when our work is not funded? Women give birth alone, in unsanitary conditions...Newborns die from preventable causes," he told a Geneva press briefing. 

"These are literally the world's most vulnerable people."

"If I just take the example of Afghanistan, between 2025 and 2028 we estimate that the absence of US support will result in 1,200 additional maternal deaths and 109,000 additional unintended pregnancies," he said.

Across the Asia-Pacific region, UNFPA receives about $94 million in US funding, he added.

Riva Eskinazi, director of donor relations at the International Planned Parenthood Federation meanwhile told Reuters it, too, would have to halt family planning and sexual and reproductive health services in West Africa as a result of the pause.

"We can foresee an increase in unintended pregnancies and maternal deaths. There is going to be a problem sending contraceptives to our members. It's devastating," she said.

IPPF, a federation of national organisations that advocates for sexual and reproductive health, calculates that it would have to forgo at least $61 million in US funding over four years in 13 countries, most of which are in Africa.

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Health

WHO proposes budget cut after US exit, defends its work

On Monday, Tedros also specifically addressed some of Trump’s criticisms, including around the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and the WHO’s independence.

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World Health Organization member states will discuss cutting part of its budget by $400 million in light of President Donald Trump's move to withdraw the U.S., its biggest government funder, from the WHO, a document released on Monday showed.

Opening the U.N. agency's annual executive board meeting, WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus also defended the WHO's work and recent reforms and reiterated a call for Washington to reconsider its exit and enter into dialogue with the agency on further change, Reuters reported.

"We would welcome suggestions from the United States, and all member states, for how we can serve you and the people of the world better," he said.

The budget cut will be addressed at the Feb. 3-11 Geneva meeting, during which member state representatives will discuss the agency's funding and work for the 2026-27 period.

The executive board proposes cutting the base programmes section of the budget from a proposed $5.3 billion to $4.9 billion, according to a document released on Monday. That is part of the wider $7.5 billion budget for 2026-27 that was originally proposed, including money for polio eradication and tackling emergencies, read the report.

"With the departure of the biggest financial contributor, the budget could not be 'business as usual,'" the document reads. The U.S. is the WHO's biggest government donor, contributing around 18% of its overall funding. The WHO has already separately taken some cost-cutting steps after the U.S. move.

However, some board representatives also wanted to send a message that the WHO would preserve its strategic direction despite the challenges, the document adds.

The $4.9 billion is roughly the same as the base programme budget for the previous period, 2024-2025.

Trump moved to exit the WHO on his first day in office two weeks ago. The process will take one year under U.S. law.

On Monday, Tedros also specifically addressed some of Trump's criticisms, including around the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and the WHO's independence.

He said the agency acted fast on the COVID outbreak, adding that the WHO is happy to say no to member states where requests go against its mission or science.

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Health

Iran requests IEA’s cooperation to open new Bamiyan hospital

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Iran’s acting ambassador in Kabul, Ali Reza Bikdeli, has asked the governor of Bamiyan province to speak to the Islamic Emirate’s leadership to allow the inauguration of the newly-built 120-bed Khomeini Hospital in the province.

According to a press release from the governor's office, Bikdeli stressed that the construction of the hospital has been completed, but they have faced challenges in terms of opening the facility.

Bamiyan Governor Abdullah Sarhadi has assured him that he will discuss the matter with the leadership of the Islamic Emirate.

Meanwhile, Afghanistan’s acting ambassador in Tehran and the Afghan consul general in Mashhad recently met with Iranian Foreign Ministry officials to discuss the expansion of bilateral relations as well as consular issues.

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