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Final Presentations

Maternal Health in Nicaragua

Casa-Materna-de-Ocotal----3

I will be providing feedback and analysis on the presentation given by Angie, India, and Soyeun on Maternal Health in Nicaragua. I liked how they started out with one of the main health care issues in Nicaragua and the information that corresponded with those issues. I thought it was great how they broke it down to a specific health issue and then tied it back to the overall health care development in the country. It was very organized and constructive. They started more general by introducing facts and statistics on the country and where it's overall health care issues stem from. For example, they talked about how the fact that Nicaragua is the second poorest country in the world and how that has imposed pressures on being able to develop programs and policies on bettering the health conditions in Nicaragua. It's interesting to see how in 2007, 30% of admissions into hospitals were maternal related. This number has most-likely increased because health care policies in Nicaragua have been improving since. I also thought it was organized the way that they broke down the presentation into not only talking about the health risks of pregnancy but further delving into the problems that are presented post-pregnancy because a lot of times there's this idea that there needs to be aims or policies in helping a mother give birth but there isn't as much thought or planning that goes into thinking about what needs to be done next after the child is born. Some of these issues as discussed in the presentation include malnutrition which was also discussed and highlighted by the dancers who came from Nicaragua. The dancers told us the story about the kid and the small fish he had found in the lake and how he went days without eating or would only have a small meal that day. Along with that the presenters that day discussed the importance of water sanitation and preventative measures that can help minimize or decrease these issues in the future. I really agree with them in terms of providing a more preventative care environment because a lot of health care issues are preventative and easily avoidable with the proper techniques and sanitation. This idea is something that I talk about in my own presentation when discussing health care policies under the government. I really liked their flyers and I think they will be highly effective in being able to provide this information to mothers especially in the clinical setting where these community health students will be in on the trip to Nicaragua.

Information they provided:

Maternal Health in Nicaragua

-Angie Lee, India Burdon Dashbach, and Soyeun Yang

Health in Nicaragua:

  • 2nd poorest country in LA
  • Half of pop. Below national poverty line
  • Poverty, geography, and disorganized health system contribute to health right now
  • Cause of Admission in hospital in 2007 – about 30% due to maternal related

Consequences of maternal malnutrition

  • Increased risk of maternal complications and Death
  • Increased risk of infection
  • Anemia
  • Lethargy

Consequences of Child Malnutrition

  • Increased risk of fetal, neonatal, and infant death
  • Intrauterine growth retardation, low birth weight, infrastructure
  • Current infrastructure

MINSA – ministerio de salud

  • Primary health provider in Nicaragua

Regulator and provider of healthcare services

  • Casa Materna
  • Maternity homes
  • Midwives
  • Comadronas- midwives
  • Greater patient comfort
  • Process of “Traditional Birth Assistants”
  • Policy for midwifery practice today
  • Community health workers
  • Bridge between community and health facility
  • Intersectionality

Contraceptives:

  • 127 births per 1,000- high fertility- why is it so high
  • 50% give birth before they’re 20
  • 3% of women 15-24 use condoms

Sanitation:

  • Water- inorganic contaminents
  • Infectious agents
  • Basic handwashing
  • Carrying water- causes spontaneous abortion

Abortion is illegal in Nicaragua

Preventative:

  • 22% of neonatal deaths can be prevented by breastfeeding during the first hour of birth

Maternal mortality

  • Causes of death related to high fertility rates and inequity in access to care in poor regions
  • severe bleeding
  • infections

Birth complications

  • Breech birth
  • Pre eclampsia
  • Post-partum issues
  • post partum hemorrhage

Cultural influences on Higher education in Nicaragua’s Autonomous regions

School_Kids_Nicaragua_grande

I was really interested in the way that Dom and Lucy reached out for the information because education is something that can be factual in terms of getting statistics and knowing the improved percentage of literacy. But it's also great to be able to put a face on these kids who are learning how to read or are in school. By adding interviews and talking to the URACAAN students, they were able to provide a more well rounded presentation with multiple views, not just the ones that are provided by factual evidence. I liked how they want to create a program and get funding to have students from URACAAN come to Dartmouth and experience how education may differ in  the United States. I think it's a valuable experience to have because it opens their mind to the different types of learning and activities that may differ from their own back home. It establishes a different perspective that allows them to understand and see how an American student's education is like. Starting a connection or program such as this with Bridges to Community would be a great way to start. It could potentially lead to a permanent program that becomes a part of Bridges to Community in the future.

Information provided:

Half of the Nicaraguan population is less than 18 years old; 40% is younger than 14

Only spend $70 per student per year

Stage 1:

  • Licenciatura 4-6 years

Stage 2: Masters

  • Stage 3: phD

53 total universities – semi private

Access to higher education: Financial barriers

  • Paying for college isn’t the biggest issue: they get financial aid
  • Seminario de titulacion- just to get degree in the end
  • $1,000

30% people that enroll end up graduating

Sandinistas and autonomy of higher education

Law 89- law of autonomy of institution

Average education is about 5.7 years

The autonomous regions of the Atlantic