Women’s Reproductive Health in Mexico program
Reported May 12, 2011,
Mexico has a maternal mortality rate of approximately 62 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births. An estimated 75% of women receive antenatal care from a skilled provider.
The Women’s Reproductive Health in Mexico program takes place in Puerto Escondido, a small seaside town in the state of Oaxaca. There, students will gain exposure to many of the challenges that women in rural Mexico face when managing their reproductive health. In addition to rotations in local clinics and public healthcare centers, students will take medical and conversational Spanish classes at a local language school.
During clinical rotations, students will have the opportunity to see Puerto Escondido’s healthcare system for women in a variety of settings. Opportunities range from working in primary care clinics to participating in rural reproductive healthcare programs with midwives or parteras. Overall, Mexico has a maternal mortality rate of approximately 83 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, a number which is often higher in poorer, more rural states such as Oaxaca. Over 60% of registered births in this coastal region are performed by parteras in the home.
By the end of the program participants will have a clear understanding of the way the public healthcare system is organized to address women’s health issues in the coastal region of Oaxaca. Participants may be able to take part in monthly educational workshops for women that are a part of the world famous Oportunidades, a comprehensive program with origins in rural Mexico. Its success has been widely evaluated and recognized and has been replicated by governments worldwide, including in New York City (for more information on Oportunidades, please visit their website at: www.oportunidades.gob.mx).