Public Health Education and Promotion Commons^™

Improving Access To Long-Term Contraceptives In Rural Guatemala Through The Ministry Of Health, Edwin Montufar, Carlos Morales, Ricardo Vernon, Carlos Brambila, Jorge Solorzano

Reproductive Health

The purpose of this study was to test a model to train nurse auxiliaries at health centers and posts in Guatemala and to determine whether these providers could deliver adequate, cost-effective services. The training model consisted of: a) selection of nurse auxiliaries; b) two-day group training; c) on-the-job training, including work with actual clients at the trainees’ work centers; and d) certification of trainees who had conducted at least five quality insertions under supervision. This study has shown that nonprofessional health providers can effectively provide quality IUD services in Guatemala. The main recommendation derived from the project is to scale …