“The Casa Materna cares for us well since the staff understands our culture, which is not the case in the government hospital.” – Comadrone living in a partner community

Curamericas Global, an international nonprofit, established Casas Maternas in three municipalities located in the isolated northwestern highlands of Guatemala—an area with high maternal mortality ratio (636 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births). Casas Maternas are maternal health facilities that provide vital health services, encourage local accountability through staffing local people and provide a safe environment where cultural norms and traditions are respected. Traditional birth attendants are encouraged to bring patients for delivery at the Casas Maternas, where trained staff are present and access to referral care is facilitated.

The success of the Casas Maternas is very dependent on local accountability, where local people staff these facilities and traditions and norms are respected. Curamericas works with traditional birth attendants, comadronas, who accompany expecting mothers to the Casa Materna with their family members. Although these women are not formally members of the staff of the Casa Materna, they are essential partners for improving maternal and newborn care, as well as contributing to the positive perception of birthing facilities. This community-based approach proved to be a promising method for reducing fatalities involved in the birthing process.

Reasons Why It Works:

• Task-Shifting
  • Indigenous Auxiliary Nurses trained in WHO-standard obstetric care
• Physically Accessible
  • 4 km average distance from partner communities
• Community Implemented
  • Built and managed by empowered, indigenous communities
  • Staffed 24 hours a day by local birth attendants and provide women with a safe, centrally-located and culturally appropriate facility for mothers to give birth and receive related services.
• Cost Efficient
  • Deliveries 1/10^th the cost of government facility deliveries
• Respectful, Culturally Acceptable Care
  • Customs honored, local language spoken, and traditional birth attendants integrated
• Complication Management
  • Equipped for obstetric emergencies & timely referrals

Key Accomplishments:

• Child mortality was reduced by 37%
• Maternal deaths from infection and eclampsia were eliminated
• Due to our education efforts, mothers who know how to properly diaper and dispose of infant feces increased by 44%
• Maternal mortality rate was decreased by 63%

The Casa Materna Rural model, with its demand-gathering community health outreach programs, has proven to be a highly effective and low-cost solution for reducing maternal and neonatal mortality in hard-to-reach rural populations. Curamericas Global’s meaningful work breaks the cycle of illness and death caused by inadequate health care systems and provides solutions that bring hope to generations of mothers and their children. We are honored that our innovative strategies are being praised and adopted by the Guatemalan government and seek to further our impact in developing countries experiencing similar challenges.

Article written by Nikita Gandhi, Events and Outreach Intern

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