Characteristics of Pregnant Women and Infant Outcomes in Southern Gaza's Humanitarian Crisis

Abstract

The prolonged humanitarian crisis in Southern Gaza has restricted access to food, medicines, medical supplies, and maternal health services. An-Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis continues to provide obstetric care under these constraints. To describe the characteristics of pregnant women and infant outcomes recorded in the labor ward of An-Nasser Medical Complex during the humanitarian crisis from 10–24 July 2025. A descriptive quantitative study using a cross-sectional approach based on medical records was conducted among 216 pregnant women recorded in the labor ward. The variables analyzed included maternal age, parity, gestational age, hemoglobin level, birth weight, infant sex, number of fetuses, and mode of delivery. Data were analyzed using frequency distributions and percentages. Most mothers were aged 20–35 years (81.0%) and were multigravida (51.9%). A total of 75.0% of deliveries occurred at term and 13.9% were preterm. Anemia was identified in 53.7% of mothers. Most infants had a normal birth weight (84.7%), while 14.3% were classified as low birth weight. In the labor-ward dataset, 91.2% of deliveries were recorded as normal deliveries. The study showed a high prevalence of anemia, as well as the occurrence of preterm birth and low birth weight among mothers and infants managed in a humanitarian crisis setting. These findings support the importance of access to nutrition, antenatal care, and sustained maternal-neonatal medical support in conflict-affected areas. Because the study used a descriptive design, causal relationships between conflict conditions and maternal-neonatal outcomes cannot be determined.