User:Lopck12/sandbox

Article Evaluation


 * basis for classification of developing countries etc
 * everything is relevant to the topic of interest but I did get distracted by the history tab
 * no sign of persuasion
 * the links on this article work just fine
 * conversations in the talk page are very civil and helpful

Choosing your topic

Article Selection


 * possible topics: infant mortality rate in Guatemala, education in Guatemala, gender inequality in Guatemala
 * Article 1: Education in Guatemala possible elaborate on children choosing work over school to sustain family, lack of teachers; include gender inequality in Guatemala section
 * Article 2:Health in Guatemala preventing infant mortality rate in Guatemala

Bibliography

Mothers' Marital Status and Type of Delivery Medical Care in Guatemala


 * unmarried women are more likely to see a modern medical provider in delivery compared to married women who go in the direction of a midwife.

Guatemala Improves Maternal-Infant Health and nutrition


 * list of reasons for such high infant morality rate include low birthweight, deliveries under unsafe conditions, no prenatal care, etc.

Evaluation of midwifery care in Guatemala


 * more midwives than doctors; most midwives are unlicensed
 * only 20 percent of pregnant women receive care

Draft:

Guatemala has among the worst health outcomes in Latin America with some of the highest infant mortality rates, and one of the lowest life expectancies at birth in the region. With about 16,000 doctors for its 16 million people, Guatemala has about half the doctor-citizen ratio recommended by the WHO. Since the end of the Guatemalan Civil War in 1997, the Ministry of Health has extended healthcare access to 54% of the rural population.

Healthcare has received different levels of support from different political administrations who disagree on how best to manage distribution of services – via a private or a public entity – and the scale of financing that should be made available. , the Ministry of Health lacked the financial means to monitor or evaluate its programs. Contribution:

Although there is access to health services, many women in Guatemala choose a different route when it comes to the care during and after child delivery. Unmarried women are more likely to receive care from private health providers such as nurses and doctors than married women. Throughout the country, midwives are known as the providers of choice for approximately 80% of the births even though they are not professionally trained. This contributes to the increasing infant mortality rate of 100 per 1,000 births as reported in some Guatemalan communities. Guatemala is said to have one of the highest fertility rates in Central America. Sexual education is not provided for many of the women and the use of contraceptives is very rare. Some pregnancies put the lives of mothers and babies at risk for several reasons. Guatemala is one of the many countries that has banned abortions except in the case when the mother's life is at risk. Because women do not have the option to end their pregnancies unless their lives are at risk, the number of children born per year increases. Without the proper health treatment, children born with life-threatening illnesses may not make it past their fifth birthday. Thus, the infant mortality rate is elevated even more. The average age for a woman to get married in Guatemala is 14 years old with parental consent. Although this phenomenon known as child marriage is prevalent in Central America, in Guatemala 53% of young women married before their 18th birthday. In most cases, motherhood comes after marriage. However, due to the fact that these young women' bodies are not entirely developed, many pregnancies result in high complications and high risks for both the mother and baby, during and after labor. With the goal of reducing such high infant mortality rates, the World Health Organization has created and implemented training programs for midwives. Midwives are the ones who provide the care in most pregnancies in this country. Only about 20% of women are provided medical services due to the country's lack of equipment and resources. This not only affects the mothers, but it also contributes to the high infant mortality rate for this country. Final Article:

Marriage and Childbearing

The average age for a woman to get married in Guatemala is 14 years old with parental consent. This phenomenon known as child marriage is prevalent in Central America; in Guatemala 53% of young women marry before their 18th birthday. Once married, young girls are likely to abandon their education and are exposed to domestic and sexual violence. In most cases, motherhood comes after marriage. However, due to the fact that these young women' bodies are not entirely developed, many pregnancies result in high complications and high risks for both the mother and baby, during and after labor. Because there is limited access to health services, women in Guatemala choose a different alternative when it comes to the care during and after child delivery. Their child deliveries frequently take place at the home of these girls. However, suffering does not end there since most are alone with nobody to care for them. Pregnancies before marriage are on the rise and unmarried women make their decision based on their image more than their safety. Single Guatemalan women may choose midwives as their health care provider during pregnancy and delivery to avoid feeling ashamed. Other women know the midwives in the community personally so they opt for a private healthcare provider. Throughout the country, midwives are known as the providers of choice for approximately 80% of the births even though they are not professionally trained. This contributes to the increasing infant mortality rate of 100 per 1,000 births as reported in some Guatemalan communities. Only about 20% of pregnant women are provided medical services due to the country's lack of equipment and resources. Guatemala is said to have one of the highest fertility rates in Central America. Sexual education is not provided for many of the women and the use of contraceptives is very rare. Education regarding contraceptive use and pregnancy is vital in poor countries, especially in Guatemala where infant and mother mortality rates are high. Some pregnancies put the lives of mothers and babies at risk for several reasons. Guatemala is one of the many countries that have banned abortions except in the case when the mother's life is at risk. Because women do not have the option to end their pregnancies unless their lives are at risk, the number of children born per year increases. Without the proper health treatment, children born with life-threatening illnesses may not make it past their fifth birthday. Thus, the infant mortality rate is elevated even more.

Lowering Infant Mortality Rate

With the goal of reducing such high infant mortality rates, the World Health Organization has created and implemented training programs for midwives. Complications arise throughout pregnancy and during labor such as hypertension, obstruction, and hemorrhage. Professional healthcare providers can only treat these conditions properly. Obstetric care is not affordable for many of the women in Guatemalan communities. Midwifery care training has been introduced because most of the causes of infant and maternal mortality can be prevented by high quality medical care. Proper medical care introduces early onset detection and access to essential obstetric care.