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 worked 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.
The goals of the Councils current work are to increase gender equity and improve the health and well-being of the most vulnerable and underserved young people and their communities. For example, the Council currently 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 to build essential life skills. The program has grown to create alliances with governmental and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) that focus on the prevention of sexual and gender-based violence. The Council also participates actively in the alliance of private and NGO providers of sexual and reproductive health services, contributing its expertise in working with indigenous adolescents in rural areas. Future activities are expected to include formalizing a network of trained Mayan girls as mentors through private, public, and nongovernmental alliances; linking reproductive health services with educational and work opportunities; expanding the safe space concept to entire communities; increasing collaboration with local governments on issues of adolescence and maternal health, 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 healthcare services.
Highlights of past and current work
- Raised the profile of Mayan girls in the development of policies for young people. The Girls' Network project is participating in diverse activities related to adolescence, health, and political participation.
- Expanded partnerships and built alliances with local organizations, including CICAM, an NGO that focuses on victims of gender-based violence and prevention of such violence, and DEMI, the government’s office for the defense of indigenous women.
- Marta Julia Ruiz, Guatemala country director from 2007 to 2010, received the International Honoree for the Health and Dignity of Women Award by Americans for UNFPA for her work promoting the creation of safe spaces for Mayan girls and adolescents.
- Started a working partnership with the Peace Corps in Guatemala that allows members of clubs in areas where volunteers work to participate in various activities organized by the Peace Corps, including vacation camps and tutoring.
- Revised and renewed the Abriendo Oportunidades curriculum for girls and adolescents through a consultancy with Making Cents.
- Systematized the information on available culturally adapted health services of the Ministry of Health.
- Prepared the legal framework to support intercultural health in Guatemala.
- Currently supports and advises the Ministry of Health in the production of the Guide for Assisting in Vertical Birth, including the revision and contextualization of images for the guide.
- Participated in the international seminar on intercultural health from the perspectives of indigenous peoples (Ecuador, October 2010)
- Designed and coordinated internships for doctors from the Ministry of Health for training in vertical-birth assistance.
- Prepared culturally pertinent sexual and reproductive health advocacy materials for women's organizations.
Projects
Abriendo Oportunidades: 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)
Adolescence/transitions to adulthood; Financial literacy/livelihoods; Schooling; Social isolation/support
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
Empowering Indigenous Women in Guatemala to Advocate for Maternal Health Rights (more)
This project strengthened the capacity of indigenous women's advocacy groups to promote their right to culturally appropriate maternal health services in Guatemala.
(9/2009 - 11/2011)
Maternal and newborn health; Newborn/infant health; Postpartum maternal care; Safe pregnancy, antenatal, and delivery care; Stigma and discrimination; Strengthening health systems
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
Resources
Featured publication
Population Council in Guatemala (PDFs: A4 and letter; en español)
Country profile
Publication date: 2012
Ruiz,Marta Julia; van Dijk,Marieke G.; Berdichevsky,Karla; Munguia,Alejandra; Burks,Courtney; Garcia,Sandra G.
Culture, Health and Sexuality 15(2): 205-218
Publication date: 2013
The cost of reaching the most disadvantaged girls: Programmatic evidence from Egypt, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Kenya, South Africa, and Uganda (PDF)
Sewall-Menon,Jessica; Bruce,Judith; Austrian,Karen; Brown,Raven; Catino,Jennifer; Colom,Alejandra; Del Valle,Angel; Demele,Habtamu; Erulkar,Annabel S.; Hallman,Kelly; Roca,Eva; Zibani,Nadia
Technical report
Publication date: 2012
Equipping Mayan girls to improve their lives (PDF)
Catino,Jennifer; Colom,Alejandra; Ruiz,Marta Julia
Promoting Healthy, Safe, and Productive Transitions to Adulthood Brief (no. 5)
Publication date: 2011
La atención y prevención de la violencia en contra de la mujer en Guatemala: Directorio de servicios (PDF)
Del Castillo,Diana; Raquec,Elvia
Publication date: 2011
Preparación de las niñas mayas para mejorar su calidad de vida (PDF)
Catino,Jennifer; Colom,Alejandra; Ruiz,Marta Julia
Promoción de transiciones a la vida adulta sanas, seguras y productivas Resumen (no. 5)
Publication date: 2011
"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
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
Adolescent experience in-depth: Using data to identify and reach the most vulnerable young people--Guatemala 2002/2006 (PDF) (HTML)
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
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 (No.16)
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
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
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) | 15.0 |
|---|---|
| Total fertility rate | 3.6 |
| Infant deaths per 1,000 live births | 30 |
| Maternal deaths per 100,000 live births | 110 |
| Girls aged 20-24 married by age 18 (%) | 30 |
| HIV/AIDS prevalence (%) | 0.8 |
| Living below US $2 per day (%) | 26 |
Country statistics from Demographic and Health Surveys, 1987–2011; UNAIDS and UNICEF websites (accessed 10/22/2012); "World Population Data Sheet" (Population Reference Bureau, 2012) | |
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