EMU had the honor to hear and listen to Laura Yoder’s talk about the Health Needs and Strengths of Q’eqchi’ Mothers in the Greater Chichen Region of Alta Verapaz, Guatemala. Yoder had a Sabbatical Spotlight event that was held in EMU’s West Dining Room.
Yoder, a nurse with over 20 years of experience, has been leading a health initiative in the Greater Chichen region since 2017. Fluent in Spanish and focused on improving healthcare, Laura’s work with local communities is shedding light on both the struggles and the strengths of Q’eqchi’ mothers. One of the biggest hurdles that Yoder talks about at the sabbatical spotlight is, in this region, the difficult terrain that they had faced. The area’s mountainous cloud forests are being deforested for agriculture, which is impacting local climate, water access, and food security. Road conditions are poor, making it hard for mothers to access healthcare services. This region also faces high rates of malnutrition and infant mortality, which are some of the highest in Latin America. Yet, the community is committed to improving its health through education and partnerships with healthcare professionals.
To better understand the health needs of Q’eqchi’ mothers, Yoder and her team launched a survey in 2017 called the Encuesta 1.0. Rather than collecting generalized data, the survey aimed to gather specific information about health practices, nutrition, water access, and healthcare needs in the local context. The team worked closely with the community to create a culturally relevant survey, translating it into Q’eqchi’ as well as Spanish and English. The team used careful translation methods to ensure accuracy and clarity, and participants were asked for consent before answering questions. The survey included sensitive topics like personal health history, but it was designed to help the team better understand the realities these mothers face.
The survey that Yoder had done showed many strengths and weaknesses, or challenges, as well. Some of the strengths that was shown was about 81 percent of mothers seek healthcare from professional settings when needed, nearly all children are vaccinated and breastfed immediately after birth, and school attendance in the region has increased since 2017. Which is a positive sign for education and the kids of that region, and mothers are knowledgeable about seeking care for common illnesses like diarrhea and respiratory infections. Some of the challenges Yoder and her team found was that 44 percent of mothers have not attended school, which limits their access to education, 40 percent of women have not visited a healthcare professional in over a year, many villages lack access to an active puesto de salud (health post) with about 60 percent reporting no such service in their community, teenage pregnancy remains a major issue with 17 being the most common age for mothers, and only about 48 percent of children receive the proper vitamin supplements that contribute to their malnutrition.
Yoder concluded by talking about what is next for them and their plans moving forward. The team plans to continue analyzing the results, especially the nutritional data, and share it with local health authorities and the community. They also plan to host health education workshops, including those for women in the Women in Agroecology Leadership for Conservation (WALC) program, which teaches local women sustainable farming practices and environmental stewardship. Additionally, the team will focus on addressing water access issues to ensure families have enough clean water.
By continuing to listen to the community’s voices and building on their strengths, this initiative shows how education and collaboration can help bring about lasting change especially towards the Q’eqchi mothers and people in Guatemala. The work being done in Alta Verapaz serves as a powerful example of how communities can tackle their own health challenges and create a healthier future for the next generation.
