By Candice Moreno and Tania Roman Women’s International Health Humbio 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 Indicators Life expectancy: 68 years old Adult literacy rates: Females 63%, Males 75% Fertility rate: 4.4 Maternal mortality rate: 150/1000 Skilled attendant delivery 41% Contraceptive prevalence 43% Prenatal care coverage 84%

Barriers to Formal Care Costs: midwives vs. physicians; condoms Transportation issues: clinics far away and cost Discrimination and cultural insensitive practices Languages barriers Distrust due to historical events

Paul Wise MD, MPH Has 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 Interventions Increased education on family planning services Improving public transportation to rural areas/ infrastructure Decreasing costs of condoms and birth control Legalize abortion Creating culturally sensitive programs

Thank You