Every minute, a woman dies of complications related to pregnancy and childbirth. Guatemala has one of the highest rates of maternal mortality in Latin America, where death during childbirth is 20 times more likely than in the developed world.
The majority of deaths are preventable, with access to sufficient medical care — a challenge for many Guatemalans, particularly those in remote areas.
Worldfocus special correspondent Lynn Sherr reports from the mountain community of Huehuetenango, Guatemala, where the “Casa Materna” center has helped 50,000 women and their children since opening — but tragedy lingers.
For more information on global maternal health, see below.
One of the United Nations’ Millenium Development Goals — a set of global goals to achieve by 2015 — is to improve maternal health and reduce maternal mortality by three-quarters.
Read about the state of maternal health in Latin American countries.
A chart, courtesy of PBS Wide Angle, details those countries with high and low rates of maternal mortality. Also, listen to public health experts discuss worldwide efforts to improve maternal care.
06/04/2009 :: 02:48:35 PM
Kamren Charpentier Says:
Dear Megan,
Thank you for this great story!! I wanted to let you know that the link you have posted above is not the correct “Casa Materna” and a program different than the clinic being operated by Project Concern International in Guatemala.
I am actually the Communications Manager for PCI and am just finishing up an updated brochure on Casa Materna. I would be happy to email it to you or any other interested in supporting our Casa Materna program. Please let me know at kcharpentier@projectconcern.org
Thanks to all!
Kamren