By Candice Moreno and Tania Roman

Women’s International HealthHumbio 129

Guatemala Land of the Maya• Central America, border

with Mexico, Belize, Honduras, El Salvador

• Total population 12, 599,000

• 41% of total population are indigenous; 80% live in rural areas

• 20 mutually distinct languages

Health IndicatorsLife expectancy: 68 years oldAdult literacy rates: Females

63%, Males 75%Fertility rate: 4.4Maternal mortality rate:

150/1000Skilled attendant delivery 41%Contraceptive prevalence 43%Prenatal care coverage 84%

Barriers to Formal CareCosts: midwives vs.

physicians; condomsTransportation issues:

clinics far away and costDiscrimination and cultural

insensitive practicesLanguages barriersDistrust due to historical

events

Paul Wise MD, MPHHas had years of

experience in Guatemala providing medical service work

“costs of condoms and transportation are the greatest barrier in family planning”

“Evangelical Church is more prevalent than Roman Catholic Church”

“Sterilization is highly used”

Possible InterventionsIncreased education on

family planning servicesImproving public

transportation to rural areas/ infrastructure

Decreasing costs of condoms and birth control

Legalize abortion Creating culturally

sensitive programs

Thank You