Curamericas Global is excited to announce that an abstract study focused on its Casa Maternas in rural Guatemala will be presented at the 2nd International Symposium on Community Health Workers in Pan Pacific Sonargaon, Dhaka, Bangladesh from November 22-November 24, 2019.

“Curamericas is honored to have our work selected and featured within this global forum,” said Andrew Herrera, Executive Director of Curamericas Global. “It is our mission to share our Community-Based, Impact-Oriented (CBIO) methodology with the world and highlight how this proven process is changing lives and creating new futures for women and their families.”

Curamericas’ Casas Maternas are culturally-adapted birthing facilities that provide women with vital health services during the pregnancy, delivery, and post-birth processes. These Casas are strategically built to provide access for multiple communities with a high maternal mortality rate with little to no access to health care services.

Using the CBIO approach, Curamericas uses volunteers (local women) to share vital messages with mothers and promote important health behaviors and key health services. The Care Group approach allows these health programs to reach a greater population, creates community ownership and increases sustainability and trust in the program.

“Through Curamericas’ Care Group model, women are coming together to learn information and be empowered to speak and educate their community,” said Shayanne Martin, author and presenter of the abstract study.

Martin, along with authors Corey Gregg and Ira Stollak, conducted a qualitative interview study with female Community Facilitators, Care Group Volunteers and Self-Help Group members from rural Guatemala. The interview assessed if and how their participation resulted in increased decision-making autonomy and participation in the community, thus achieving greater female empowerment and social status.

The authors concluded, and will present at the Symposium, that through increased theoretical and practical knowledge, and through increased self-efficacy and social status, the Care Group approach empowered female participants to make positive health behavior changes in their own lives, for themselves and for their families, as well as increased their participation in their communities.

“Our findings support the universal push that women must be a part of the equation as it relates to community health,” said Martin. “Curamericas’ methodology is evidence that marginalized, indigenous women living in a male-dominated society can be empowered through this approach, thus bringing real change in their community.”

The Symposium on Community Health Workers highlights research findings on Community Health Workers from different parts of the world. The event is designed to bring local and international communities together to discuss past successes and challenges with Community Health Workers to help develop strategic pathways for better community-based health programs.