Why is maternal and child health care important in the communities where you serve and in Guatemala?
The importance of maternal and child health care lies in its objective of ensuring the well-being of mothers and children and facilitating strategies that contribute to the reduction of maternal and neonatal mortality. In Guatemala, most maternal deaths occur during and after childbirth, and mortality rates reflect the disparities and inequities faced by a large part of the Guatemalan population. Therefore, maternal and child care during and after childbirth can be crucial to the lives of women and newborns, as maternal and neonatal health are closely linked.
According to the Guatemalan Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance report on maternal mortality, the maternal mortality ratio has declined steadily from 1989 to 2020, with a 55% reduction from 219 to 105 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. However, this trend has stagnated in recent years, showing an average annual reduction of 2%. In 2021 the COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted this trend compared to the previous year, increasing the maternal mortality ratio by 23%, from 99 to 122 deaths per 100,000 live births.
In addition, according to the Human Development Report, Guatemala continues to be one of the most unequal countries in the world, which translates into significant variations in the maternal mortality ratio between different departments. Factors such as poverty, unemployment, low levels of education, limited access to health services and cultural barriers mainly affect indigenous women in rural areas, as well as those living in marginal urban areas. The 2014-2015 National Survey of Maternal and Child Health (ENSMI) reveals that 55% of the women who died had only primary education. The birth rate in 2021 was 22,2 per 1,000 inhabitants.
This situation characterized by deteriorating maternal health and poor access to health services for pregnant women leads to hundreds of pregnancy-related deaths, especially in rural and marginalized areas, where poverty, illiteracy, low educational level, limited income and social marginalization generate alarming conditions.
In general, actions to improve maternal and child care focus on providing prenatal care, support in the postpartum first weeks, ensuring that children receive essential nutrients during the first thousand days after birth and reducing malnutrition in adolescents, women of reproductive age and children under five years of age. It is essential, therefore, to strengthen primary health care, promote community participation and guarantee access to and use of health services.
What work/programs does each clinic carry out in maternal and child health care?
Currently different activities are carried out for the benefit of maternal and child health including prenatal care, weight and height monitoring, well-child monitoring, supplementation and vaccination in cooperation with the Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance. Prenatal pediatric care and nutritional assessments are available for both mothers and newborns. The “Pregnancy Club” was established to strengthen prenatal monitoring and integrate pediatric care. During the period from 2022 to 2024, a total of 14,781 pediatric consultations were carried out. During 2024, 368 children were monitored in the weight and height program. During the 2023-2024 period, 505 prenatal care consultations were conducted.
What are the challenges and what are some success stories?
One of the biggest challenges facing Cabrini Guatemala is the implementation of the 2025-2030 Strategic Plan, where the goal for maternal and child health is for a 15% increase in gynecological and obstetric care for women in Cabrini Guatemala’s areas of influence through effective prenatal care and timely attention to the spectrum of gynecological morbidity. Likewise, it aims to strengthen the quality of the pediatric services by increasing the number of users by 15% annually, through patient follow-up and health education to reduce common and preventable diseases in children and adolescents.
Illness goes beyond the physical; it involves the soul and emotions. That is why Cabrini Guatemala offers a service that cares for the body while also seeking to heal the inner self. At Cabrini Guatemala, we embrace the Cabrinian Charism through concrete actions that promote life.
WEIGHT AND HEIGHT MONITORING AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
ORAL HEALTH
Is there a success story you wish to share that highlights the work you do in maternal and child health care?
Special case
Patient: José Pablo Carrera, 8 years old.
Clinical Summary:
The patient presents with his maternal grandmother due to a two-year history of abdominal pain, occasional difficulty eating, and significant weight loss. Despite the fact that he had previously consulted multiple public healthcare institutions and undergone numerous tests, he experienced no clinical improvement. Due to persistent symptoms and lack of resolution, he sought medical attention at Dispensario Madre Cabrini where he was evaluated by Dr. Gabriela Martinez. On examination, moderate-intensity abdominal pain was found upon palpation of the entire abdomen. Given these findings, an immediate referral was made to the pediatric gastroenterology department with Dr. Jorge Romero for social assistance to perform an upper endoscopy as soon as possible. The procedure was carried out at a reduced cost to ensure patient access.
Findings:
MODERATE CHRONIC GASTRITIS WITH MODERATE ACTIVITY AND
HELICOBACTER PYLORI-POSITIVE
The patient was placed on a joint treatment plan with gastroenterology, resulting in significant clinical improvement and weight gain.
Cabrini Health Updates – March 2025
~ thanks to Cabrini Ministries Guatemala for this article