Maternal Child Health in Western Highlands, Guatemala

My MPH practicum, through BUSPH, was designed to examine first-hand the state of maternal and child health in Nahuala, Guatemala. This region exhibits some of the highest maternal and infant mortality rates in the Western Hemisphere. Through observing direct care and participating in community activities I was able to enhance my skills and experiences in international public health and ultimately recommend strategies for improvement to a local non-profit. Methods: In 2 months, I completed 11 visits to rural communities. I participated in and observed care of mothers and children. Through a literature review of national norms, tools used by a local non-profit, and skills I learned at BUSPH, I created a tool and evaluated prenatal care providers in rural communities. In addition, I participated in the implementation of a grant to open new rural health posts, co-coordinated a conference on international models of public health and gave a presentation on the U.S. public health system. Results: I presented a written summary of the evaluations with observations and recommendations for improvement. My findings indicated that the providers completed the minimum requirements of the prenatal care questionnaire, but did not perform the physical examination and patient education requested by the ministry of health. It is my hope that the recommendations I provided will contribute to improving prenatal care and contribute to the reduction of maternal and infant deaths in communities throughout Guatemala.