Birth is deadly for Guatemalan women

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 on global maternal health, visit http://worldfocus.org/blog/2008/12/02/birth-is-deadly-for-guatemalan-women/3035/

Worldfocus video podcast: http://feeds.feedburner.com/worldfocus

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• global
• health
• Guatemala
• Latin
• America
• Lynn
• Sherr
• maternal
• mortality
• United
• Nations
• news
• Worldfocus

[iheartFOHalways]

@awsomejennifer That's just stupid. My mum had me and yes she died giving birth. It hurts knowing that but your comment was just stupid.

[TheGordogringo]

@iheartFOHalways I'm sorry to hear that. :( Tragic

[iheartFOHalways]

My mum sadly passed away after giving birth to me..

[DonCocales2008]

The catholic church benefits from keeping poor people in ignorance. That's why every time the government wants to do something about curbing the high b irth rate the catholic church opposes to it. So it's a mater of cultural roots and that's why to educate not just the poor people but all sectors of the guatemalan societity to start thinking outside the box.

[XIOIAN]

Wasn't 8 kids enough? They are also living in poverty. Common people, think!

[analy551]

well well guatemalans have a alot of kids...but dats suxx tho =(

[sneakernight8789]

my mom is guatemalan and she had 3 other kids besides me..

[ZubZeroH20]

something has to be done to help this people. They need more education and birth control because having 8 plus kids is just not right when you live in poverty. I guess thats the way its been since mayans rule this part of the world. But then maybe thats how it was in every continent before the invention of birth control just look at africa it suffers from the same problem...If you cant feem em dont breeding em..

[awsomejennifer]

Stop having kids it is risky don't take a chance and have sex

[TheJose4u]

just a way to let them know to stop having kids