Project profile — Reducing Gaps for Indigenous Peoples of Guatemala

The expected intermediate outcomes for this project include: (1) improved delivery of essential health services to mothers, pregnant women, newborns and children under five; (2) improved utilisation of essential health services by mothers, pregnant women, newborns and children under five; and (3) increased understanding and technical cooperation between Canada and Guatemala for improving maternal, newborn and child health.

Results achieved as of March 2020 include: (1) 11,509 births have been attended by skilled health personnel; (2) 20,889 women have received antenatal care at least four times during pregnancy representing an increase of 37% since the beginning of the project; (3) 34 traditional Indigenous midwives have been trained as trainers in upgraded maternal and child health practices; (4) 904 traditional Indigenous midwives have been trained to deliver ancestral and updated maternal and child health practices; (5) 102,884 women and 4,473 men were reached on favourable maternal, newborn and child health practices through 551 focus group discussions, an additional 25,292 women were reached through home visits providing personalized counselling in nutrition and maternal care; and (6) 3,989 traditional community leaders have increased their knowledge of maternal, newborn, and child health. These results are contributing to improved delivery and utilization of essential health services for mothers, pregnant women, newborns and children under the age of five.