Overview
Using a socio-drama that they prepared for a conference, these indigenous Guatemalan girls shared their thoughts about participating in a Council project.
The Population Council’s involvement in Guatemala began in 1985 with the USAID-funded operations research and technical assistance project in Latin America and the Caribbean (INOPAL). In 1992, the Council opened an office under the auspices of the USAID/Guatemala mission to build the capacity of indigenous NGOs involved in improving the reproductive health of the Mayan population. With the end of USAID funding, the office closed in 2006 but reopened in 2008. Since then, Council staff members in Guatemala have been actively working to improve the health and well-being of the most vulnerable and marginalized groups in Guatemala.
Program focus
Population Council activities in Guatemala began with operations research (OR) to increase access to underused contraceptive methods, especially among indigenous populations. After 1994, the Council’s focus broadened to include quality of care, strengthening the capacity of local institutions to conduct OR in order to improve services and adolescent reproductive health and livelihoods among indigenous populations. Current goals of the Council’s work in Guatemala are to increase gender equity and to improve the health and well-being of the most vulnerable and underserved young people and their communities. For example, the Council is involved in a project to empower indigenous girls by increasing their social support networks, connecting them to role models and mentors, and helping them build essential life skills. Future activities are expected to include formalizing a network of trained Mayan girls as mentors; linking reproductive health services with educational and work opportunities; creating a more supportive environment for young people in indigenous communities; involving parents and males in programs for adolescents; and exploring ways to improve the quality of maternal health care for indigenous women in maternity waiting homes and other public health-care services.
Highlights of past and present work
- Raised Mayan girls’ profile in the development of policies for young people. The Girls’ Network project is making links with other youth-serving organizations in Guatemala.
- Engaged in a nationwide equality-of-access study with nine multilevel youth-serving organizations to assess whether young people of both sexes are being reached by services.
- Expanded partnerships and built alliances with local organizations, including FESIRGUA, a network of Mayan NGOs in Guatemala.
- Received international media attention on the PBS series NOW in a documentary entitled "Child Brides: Stolen Lives," broadcast 12 October 2007.
- Conducted a study for the Ministry of Health and UNFPA on unmet need for family planning methods in four departments of Guatemala; findings are being used to inform the communication strategy of the National Program of Reproductive Health.
- Helped to alter opinion on contraception by informing policymakers and service providers of the perceptions and needs of community members.
- Developed instruments and tools that have been incorporated into the service-delivery norms of Guatemala.
- Tested the feasibility of inputs that have become components of national reproductive health policy and practice, such as postpartum and postabortion contraception, systematic screening for reproductive health service needs, and the provision of the IUD and injectable contraceptives by paramedical staff.
- Introduced a reproductive health framework and focus on quality of care into the family planning programs of large service providers.
- Strengthened the management and service-delivery capabilities of NGOs by forming a professional reproductive health community and by training indigenous professionals.
- Developed the “Balanced Counseling Model,” a tool for family planning service providers that is now considered a “best practice” for helping women choose a contraceptive method.
- Developed a model to introduce no-scalpel vasectomy that has been incorporated at the national level.
Projects
Adolescent Policy Analysis, Capacity Building, and Advocacy Project (more)
This project is designed to provide decision-makers, NGOs, youth advocates, UN country representatives, and members of government ministries with the appropriate knowledge and tools to effectively make the case for implementing policies and programs that are evidence-based and targeted at vulnerable subgroups of young people, in particular girls.
(1/2008 - ongoing)
Population policy and demographic analysis
Creating Opportunities for Mayan Girls and Young Women (more)
This national program is providing the most vulnerable indigenous Mayan girls and young women in Guatemala with personal and professional development skills, mentorship, and leadership opportunities.
(6/2002 - ongoing)
Financial literacy/livelihoods; Schooling; Social isolation/support; Youth/transitions to adulthood
Improving the Health of Indigenous Guatemalan Women and Families by Strengthening Quality of Care in Maternity Waiting Homes (more)
Council researchers are developing strategies to ensure that maternity waiting homes are acceptable and used by indigenous women in Guatemala.
(1/2008 - 7/2009)
Maternal and newborn health; Quality of care; Safe pregnancy/antenatal and delivery care
Increasing Access to and Quality and Integration of Contraceptive Services in Latin America and the Caribbean: Findings from Operations Research (more)
Council researchers in Latin America and the Caribbean conducted a workshop to disseminate findings from reproductive health research in the region.
(6/2007 - 12/2007)
Integrating health services; Quality of care
Resources
"Mejorando la salud de las mujeres y las familias indígenas Guatemaltecas: Fortaleciendo la calidad de atención en casas maternas," fact sheet (PDF)Population Council
Publication date: 2009
For Mayan girls, leadership skills and participation in a national network lead to social, economic, and political gains (PDF)
Catino,Jennifer; Ruiz,Marta Julia; Hallman,Kelly; Roca,Eva; Weiner,Adam; Colom,Alejandra; Contreras Aprile,Sandra
Promoting Healthy, Safe, and Productive Transitions to Adulthood Brief (no. 5)
Publication date: 2009
Nurse auxiliaries as providers of intrauterine devices for contraception in Guatemala and Honduras (abstract)
Vernon,Ricardo
Reproductive Health Matters 17(33): 51-60
Publication date: 2009
The adolescent experience in-depth: Using data to identify and reach the most vulnerable young people (HTML)
series of 51 data guides by country
Publication date: 2009
The adolescent experience in-depth: Using data to identify and reach the most vulnerable young people--Guatemala 2002/2006 (PDF) (HTML)
Publication date: 2009
A four-fold disadvantage: The effects of gender, ethnicity, poverty, and location on education in Guatemala (PDF)
presentation at the Comparative and International Education Society 51st Annual Conference, February
Hallman,Kelly; Peracca,Sara; Catino,Jennifer; Ruiz,Marta Julia
Publication date: 2007
Ampliando el acceso a anticonceptivos de larga duración en áreas rurales de Guatemala a través del Ministerio de Salud (PDF)
presentación, taller regional sobre utilización de hallazgos de investigación operativa para mejorar el acceso, calidad e integración de los servicios de planificación familar en América Latina y el Caribe, La Antigua, Guatemala, 8-11 Octubre
Montufar,Edwin
Publication date: 2007
Assessing the multiple disadvantages of Mayan girls: The effects of gender, ethnicity, poverty, and residence on education in Guatemala (PDF)
Hallman,Kelly; Peracca,Sara; Catino,Jennifer; Ruiz,Marta Julia
Promoting Healthy, Safe, and Productive Transitions to Adulthood Brief (no. 16)
Publication date: 2007
Evaluación de las múltiples desventajas de las niñas mayas: efectos del género, el origen étnico, la pobreza y el lugar de residencia sobre la educación en Guatemala [Assessing the multiple disadvantages of Mayan girls: The effects of gender, ethnicity, poverty, and residence on education in Guatemala] (PDF)
Hallman,Kelly; Peracca,Sara; Catino,Jennifer; Ruiz,Marta Julia
Promoción de transiciones a la vida adulta sanas, seguras y productivas Resumen (N16 (Actualización junio de 2007))
Publication date: 2007
Expansión del uso de la consejería balanceada en Guatemala (PDF)
presentación, taller regional sobre utilización de hallazgos de investigación operativa para mejorar el acceso, calidad e integración de los servicios de planificación familar en América Latina y el Caribe, La Antigua, Guatemala, 8-11 Octubre
Cifuentes,Rossana
Publication date: 2007
Getting results used: Evidence from reproductive health programmatic research in Guatemala (abstract)
Brambila,Carlos; Ottolenghi,Emma; Marin,M.Celeste; Bertrand,Jane T.
Health Policy and Planning 22(4): 234-245
Publication date: 2007
Guatemala
Dries-Daffner,Ingrid; Hallman,Kelly; Catino,Jennifer; Berdichevsky,Karla; Arnett,Jeffrey Jensen
from International Encyclopedia of Adolescence
Publication date: 2007
Guatemala: On-site training and outreach increases demand for and provision of vasectomy (PDF)
FRONTIERS OR Summary (no. 67)
Publication date: 2007
Indigenous girls in Guatemala: Poverty and location (PDF)
Hallman,Kelly; Peracca,Sara; Catino,Jennifer; Ruiz,Marta Julia; Lewis,Maureen; Lockheed,Marlaine
from Exclusion, Gender and Education: Case Studies from the Developing World, pp. 145-175
Publication date: 2007
Introducing sustainable vasectomy services in Guatemala (PDF)
Vernon,Ricardo; Solorzano,Jorge; Munoz,Blanca
International Family Planning Perspectives 33(4): 182-187
Publication date: 2007
Maquiladoras and market mamas: Women's work and childcare in Guatemala City and Accra (abstract)
Quisumbing,Agnes R.; Hallman,Kelly; Ruel,Marie T.
Journal of Development Studies 43(3): 420-455
Publication date: 2007
Para las jóvenes mayas, los espacios seguros conducen a triunfos sociales [For Mayan girls, safe spaces lead to social gains] (PDF)
Hallman,Kelly; Roca,Eva; Ruiz,Marta Julia; Catino,Jennifer; Colom,Alejandra; Contreras Aprile,Sandra
Promoción de transiciones a la vida adulta sanas, seguras y productivas Resumen (N 5 (Actualización septiembre de 2007))
Publication date: 2007
Illuminating the status of Mayan girls in Guatemala (PDF)
Population Briefs 12(3)
Publication date: 2006
Multiple disadvantages of Mayan females: The effects of gender, ethnicity, poverty, and residence on education in Guatemala (PDF)
Hallman,Kelly; Peracca,Sara; Catino,Jennifer; Ruiz,Marta Julia
Policy Research Division Working Paper (no. 211)
Publication date: 2006
The Guatemala Community Day Care Program: An example of effective urban programming (PDF)
Ruel,Marie T.; Quisumbing,Agnes R.; Hallman,Kelly; de la Briere,Benedicte; Coj de Salazar,Nora
IFPRI Research Report no. 144
Publication date: 2006
Causas de bajos logros educacionales y transición temprana a la edad adulta en Guatemala [Causes of low school achievement and early transition to adulthood in Guatemala] (PDF)
Hallman,Kelly; Peracca,Sara; Catino,Jennifer; Ruiz,Marta Julia
Publication date: 2005
Entendiendo y respondiendo a la violencia doméstica en comunidades indígenas de Guatemala [Understanding and responding to domestic violence in indigenous communities in Guatemala]
Ruiz,Marta Julia; Mazariegos,Luisa Maria; Banos Smith,Maria; Catino,Jennifer; Herrera,Guillermina
Publication date: 2005
Expanding access to vasectomy services in the Ministry of Health of Guatemala (PDF)
De Rodriguez,Blanca; Vernon,Ricardo; Solorzano,Jorge
FRONTIERS Final Report
Publication date: 2005
Improving access to long-term contraceptives in rural Guatemala through the Ministry of Health (PDF)
Montufar,Edwin; Morales,Carlos; Vernon,Ricardo; Brambila,Carlos; Solorzano,Jorge
FRONTIERS Final Report
Publication date: 2005
Marriage in transition: Evidence on age, education, and assets from six developing countries
Quisumbing,Agnes R.; Hallman,Kelly; Lloyd,Cynthia B.; Behrman,Jere R.; Stromquist,Nelly P.; Cohen,Barney
from The Changing Transitions to Adulthood in Developing Countries: Selected Studies, pp. 200-269
Publication date: 2005
Mothers' work and child care: Findings from the urban slums of Guatemala (abstract)
Hallman,Kelly; Quisumbing,Agnes R.; Ruel,Marie T.; de la Briere,Benedicte
Economic Development and Cultural Change 53(4): 855-886
Publication date: 2005
Providers' compliance with the balanced counseling strategy in Guatemala (abstract) (PDF)
Leon,Federico R.; Brambila,Carlos; de la Cruz,Marisela; Garcia Colindres,Julio; Morales,Carlos; Vasquez,Benedicto
Studies in Family Planning 36(2): 117-126
Publication date: 2005
Voices of vulnerable and underserved adolescents in Guatemala: A summary of the qualitative study: 'Understanding the lives of indigenous young people in Guatemala' (PDF)
Colom,Alejandra; Ruiz,Marta Julia; Catino,Jennifer; Hallman,Kelly; Peracca,Sara; Shellenberg,Kristen M.
Publication date: 2005
Causes of low educational attainment and early transition to adulthood in Guatemala (PDF)
paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Population Association of America, Boston, 1-3 April, and at the Population Council National Youth Forum, Guatemala City, September
Hallman,Kelly; Peracca,Sara; Catino,Jennifer; Ruiz,Marta Julia
Publication date: 2004
Developing a supervision instrument for postabortion care in Guatemala, Bolivia and Mexico (PDF)
Brambila,Carlos
FRONTIERS Final Report
Publication date: 2004
Effects of IGSS' job aids-assisted Balanced Counseling Algorithms on quality of care and client outcomes (PDF)
Leon,Federico R.; Brambila,Carlos; de la Cruz,Marisela; Bratt,John H.; Gutierrez,Gustavo; Davila,Veronica; Boniato,Carlo; Rios,Alex
FRONTIERS Final Report
Publication date: 2004
Informing the medical community in Guatemala about emergency contraception (PDF)
Kestler,Edgar; Ramirez,Lilian
FRONTIERS Final Report
Publication date: 2004
Investigating IUD demand in Ghana and Guatemala (PDF)
Population Briefs 10(1)
Publication date: 2004
Scaling up a successful counseling model in Guatemala (PDF)
Guatemalan Association of Female Physicians (AGMM)
FRONTIERS Final Report
Publication date: 2004
Maquiladoras and market mamas: Women's work and childcare in Guatemala City and Accra (PDF)
Quisumbing,Agnes R.; Hallman,Kelly; Ruel,Marie T.
Food Consumption and Nutrition Division Discussion Paper (no. 153)
Publication date: 2003
Availability and acceptability of IUDs in Guatemala (PDF)
Brambila,Carlos; Taracena,Berta
FRONTIERS Final Report
Publication date: 2003
Childcare and work: Joint decisions among women in poor neighborhoods of Guatemala City (PDF)
Hallman,Kelly; Quisumbing,Agnes R.; Ruel,Marie T.; de la Briere,Benedicte
Food Consumption and Nutrition Division Discussion Paper (no. 151)
Publication date: 2003
Enhancing quality for clients: The balanced counseling strategy (PDF)
Leon,Federico R.; Rios,Alex; Zumaran,Adriana; de la Cruz,Marisela; Brambila,Carlos; Bratt,John H.
FRONTIERS Program Brief (no. 3)
Publication date: 2003
Ghana and Guatemala: Clients and providers need better support and guidance on IUDs (PDF)
FRONTIERS OR Summary (no. 32)
Publication date: 2003
Ghana y Guatemala: Clientas y proveedores requieren de apoyo y orientación sobre DIU [Ghana and Guatemala: Clients and providers need better support and guidance on IUDs] (PDF)
FRONTERAS Resumen de Investigación Operativa (número 21)
Publication date: 2003
Marriage in transition: Evidence on age, education, and assets from six developing countries (PDF)
Quisumbing,Agnes R.; Hallman,Kelly
Policy Research Division Working Paper (no. 183)
Publication date: 2003
Marriage in transition: Evidence on age, education, and assets from six developing countries [Arabic] (PDF)
Quisumbing,Agnes R.; Hallman,Kelly
Policy Research Division Working Paper (no. 183)
Publication date: 2003
Selected DHS data on 10-14-year-olds (HTML)
annexes by country to Facts about Adolescents from the Demographic and Health Survey: Statistical Tables for Program Planning
Publication date: 2003
Selected DHS data on 10-14-year-olds: Guatemala (PDF) (HTML)
annex to "Facts about adolescents from the Demographic and Health Survey: Statistical tables for program planning"
Publication date: 2003
Subsidized childcare and working women in urban Guatemala
Ruel,Marie T.; de la Briere,Benedicte; Hallman,Kelly; Quisumbing,Agnes R.; Coj de Salazar,Nora
from Household Decisions, Gender, and Development: A Synthesis of Recent Research, pp. 219-224
Publication date: 2003
Testing balanced counseling to improve provider-client interaction in Guatemala's MOH clinics (PDF)
Leon,Federico R.; Brambila,Carlos; de la Cruz,Marisela; Bratt,John H.; Garcia Colindres,Julio; Vasquez,Benedicto; Morales,Carlos
FRONTIERS Final Report
Publication date: 2003
Childcare, mothers' work, and earnings: Findings from the urban slums of Guatemala City (PDF)
Hallman,Kelly; Quisumbing,Agnes R.; Ruel,Marie T.; de la Briere,Benedicte
Policy Research Division Working Paper (no. 165)
Publication date: 2002
Childcare, mothers' work, and earnings: Findings from the urban slums of Guatemala City [Arabic] (PDF)
Hallman,Kelly; Quisumbing,Agnes R.; Ruel,Marie T.; de la Briere,Benedicte
Policy Research Division Working Paper (no. 165)
Publication date: 2002
Does subsidized childcare help poor working women in urban areas? Evaluation of a government-sponsored program in Guatemala City (PDF)
Ruel,Marie T.; de la Briere,Benedicte; Hallman,Kelly; Quisumbing,Agnes R.; Coj de Salazar,Nora
Food Consumption and Nutrition Division Discussion Paper (no. 131)
Publication date: 2002
Reproductive health care in the postnatal period in Guatemala (PDF)
Jacobs,Erika; Brambila,Carlos; Vernon,Ricardo
FRONTIERS Final Report
Publication date: 2002
Facts about adolescents from the Demographic and Health Survey: Statistical tables for program planning (HTML)
series of DHS data tables by country
Publication date: 2001
Facts about adolescents from the Demographic and Health Survey--Statistical tables for program planning: Guatemala 1995 (PDF) (HTML)
Publication date: 2001
Hospitales de América Latina mejoran la atención post-aborto (PDF)
Population Briefs, December 2001 (Spanish edition)
Publication date: 2001
Setting prices for reproductive health services in a public hospital in Guatemala (PDF)
Bratt,John H.; Valdez,Adrian; Molina,Roberto; Alfaro,Mario; Barrientos,Marco Antonio; Brambila,Carlos; Figueroa,Werner
FRONTIERS Final Report
Publication date: 2001
Mifepristone-misoprostol medical abortion: Home administration of misoprostol in Guadeloupe (abstract)
Guengant,Jean-Pierre; Bangou,Jacques; Elul,Batya; Ellertson,Charlotte
Contraception 60(3): 167-172
Publication date: 1999
Guatemala Fast Facts
| Population (millions) | 14.0 |
|---|---|
| Total fertility rate | 4.4 |
| Infant deaths per 1,000 live births | 34 |
| Maternal deaths per 100,000 live births | 290 |
| Girls aged 20-24 married by age 18 (%) | 34 |
| HIV/AIDS prevalence (%) | 0.8 |
| Living below US $2 per day (%) | 24 |
What's New
- Abriendo Oportunidadas is a leadership and empowerment program in Guatemala that teaches girls life, entrepreneurial, and leadership skills, and provides information about reproductive health. Visit our multimedia section to watch a video about this successful program. (more)
- The Council's efforts to reduce maternal mortality among indigenous women in Guatemala were highlighted on the PBS television show Worldfocus. The segment can be viewed on the show's Web site. (offsite link)
Get Involved
- Make a contribution to the Population Council
- Sign up to receive e-mail announcements
- Send an e-card
Connect
