Maternal health and health-seeking behaviors among indigenous Mam mothers from Quetzaltenango, Guatemala
Date
2014Author
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OBJECTIVE: To obtain background information about maternal health and health-seeking behaviors among indigenous mothers living in rural Mam-Mayan communities of Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. METHODS: A cross-sectional analysis of 100 pregnant and breastfeeding women in four communities was performed to determine prevalence and determinants of service utilization. RESULTS: Extreme poverty, poor education, and poor access to basic resources were prevalent. Out of 100 women 14-41 years old, 33% did not use the formal health care sector for antenatal care; the majority consulted a traditional birth attendant. Only 13% delivered in a hospital. Lower socioeconomic status, lack of fluency in Spanish, and no ownership of a motorized vehicle were associated with the highest likelihood of poor utilization of services. CONCLUSIONS: A variety of factors affect utilization of maternal health services by indigenous women in rural Quetzaltenango. These include socioeconomic disparities, ethnic and linguistic differences, and poor access to basic resources. The current reproductive needs of women should be addressed to improve their health and increase their chance of having healthy children.(AU) OBJETIVO: Obtener información básica acerca de la salud materna y los comportamientos relacionados con la búsqueda de asistencia sanitaria en madres indígenas residentes en comunidades rurales de la etnia maya mam en Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. MÉTODOS: Se llevó a cabo un análisis transversal de 100 mujeres pertenecientes a cuatro comunidades, embarazadas o en período de lactancia, con objeto de determinar la prevalencia y los determinantes de la utilización de servicios. RESULTADOS: La pobreza extrema, la escasa formación y el acceso limitado a los recursos básicos fueron prevalentes. De las 100 mujeres, de 14 a 41 años de edad, 33% no acudieron al sector formal de atención de salud en busca de asistencia prenatal; la mayor parte de ellas consultaron a una partera tradicional. Solo 12% dieron a luz en un hospital. El nivel socioeconómico inferior, la falta de fluidez en español y la carencia de un vehículo motorizado se asociaron con la mayor probabilidad de escasa utilización de los servicios. CONCLUSIONES: Diversos factores afectan a la utilización de los servicios de salud materna por parte de las mujeres indígenas del Quetzaltenango rural. Entre estos factores figuran las desigualdades socioeconómicas, las diferencias lingüísticas y étnicas, y el acceso limitado a los recursos básicos. Es preciso atender a las necesidades reproductivas actuales de las mujeres para mejorar su salud y aumentar sus probabilidades de tener hijos sanos.(AU)
Subject
Maternal Welfare; Maternal Health Services; Food Security; Guatemala; Bienestar Materno; Servicios de salud materna; Seguridad alimentaria; Guatemala; Acesso aos Serviços de Saúde; Índios Centro-Americanos; Serviços de Saúde Materna; Bem-Estar Materno; Aceitação pelo Paciente de Cuidados de Saúde; Estudos Transversais; Guatemala; População Rural; Classe Social
URI
http://www.scielosp.org/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1020-49892014000200005https://iris.paho.org/handle/10665.2/8421
Citation
Chomat, Anne Marie,Solomons, Noel W.,Montenegro, Gabriela,Crowley, Caitlin,Bermudez, Odilia I. (2014) Maternal health and health-seeking behaviors among indigenous Mam mothers from Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. Rev Panam Salud Publica;35(2) 113-120,feb. 2014. Retrieved from http://www.scielosp.org/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1020-49892014000200005
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