Guatemalan communities get engaged to improve maternal survival; New research shows maternal
health program increased emergency preparation
15 July 2004
Baltimore, Md. – Guatemalan women, their partners, and their
communities are now better prepared to deal with complications during pregnancy and childbirth because
of an innovative maternal health program that improved their knowledge of danger signs, such as severe
bleeding during delivery, and their readiness for maternal emergencies.
According to a new report from researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of
Public Health/Center for Communication Programs (CCP), the Guatemalan maternal health program results
demonstrate significant improvements in knowledge, attitudes, and practices among both men and women
exposed to the program. For example, women exposed to the program were significantly more likely
to have a plan in place for emergency situations and to give birth in a health care facility.
Guatemala has one of the highest rates of maternal mortality in Latin America. The
Maternal and Neonatal Health Program (MNH)—implemented by Jhpiego, an affiliate of Johns Hopkins
University, and CCP—worked with the Guatemalan Ministry of Health and Public Assistance (MOH)
to help women, their families, and their communities recognize obstetrical emergencies and take
appropriate action. The major causes of maternal death in Guatemala are preventable and include
hemorrhage, infection, and hypertension. The U.S. Agency for International Development
(USAID) supports the MNH Program through its Guatemala-Central American Program.
Mobilizing for Impact: Engaging Guatemalan Communities to Save
Mothers details the program's activities as well as its key results. One of the activities
involved developing "Emergency Plans" with families and communities to help make timely decisions
to seek medical care in the event of an obstetrical or neonatal emergency. Materials developed
for the program illustrated emergency situations, such as hemorrhaging, and steps for seeking care.
Other significant impact findings include:
- Knowledge of danger signs such as severe bleeding improved significantly
among both men and women.
- Women exposed to the program were significantly more likely to believe
in the value of using a skilled provider at childbirth.
- Women exposed to the program were significantly more likely to have
a plan for transportation in the event of an obstetrical emergency.
About Jhpiego
For nearly 40 years, Jhpiego, (pronounced "ja-pie-go"), has empowered front-line health
workers by designing and implementing simple, low-cost, hands-on solutions that
strengthen the delivery of health care services, following the
household-to-hospital continuum of care. We partner with community- to
national-level organizations to build sustainable, local capacity through
advocacy, policy and guidelines development, and quality and performance
improvement approaches.
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