Recorded presentation

Jennifer Lynn Catino, MPH, Kelly Hallman, PhD, and Sarah Peracca, PhD. Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean, Population Council, Panzacola No. 62, Interior 1, Colonia Villa Coyoacan, Mexico City, 04000, Mexico, 52 55 5999 8656, jcatino@popcouncil.org.mx

Indigenous girls in Guatemala face a range of health and social problems distinct from those of boys and non-indigenous girls.

A cross-sectional design and qualitative methods were used to examine indigenous adolescent education, livelihood, reproductive health and community life circumstances. The study included 12 participatory sessions on time use and social mapping with adult women, girls and boys. Sixteen focus groups; 88 in-depth interviews; and 4 observation exercises were also conducted in two Mayan language areas. Respondents included indigenous girls and boys aged 12-14 and 15-19, parents, community leaders, health providers, educators and employers.

Findings revealed that indigenous girls leave school earlier and face unique barriers to school attendance, including security risks related to traveling long distances. Such risks conflict with the expressed desires of most parents that their children complete at least primary education. Parents commonly expressed the danger associated with allowing girls to spend time out of the home with friends, so they are kept in. There is a marked discrepancy between when girls say they want to marry and how many children they desire. Many adolescent girls interviewed said they would prefer to marry in their twenties and have 2-3 children. Currently, most marry between the ages of 14-18 and have an average of over six live births.

Results indicate that indigenous Guatemalan girls need opportunities for increased autonomy and safe places where they can go to exchange ideas and information. They could benefit from mentors who teach basic life skills and present alternatives to a life of domestic labor, early marriage, frequent pregnancy, isolation and poverty.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand the social context of indigenous girls in Guatemala across the sectors of education, livelihoods, reproductive health and community life;
• Identify factors related to the poor health and limited life options of indigenous girls,
• Define conceptual areas of intervention to increase life options for indignous girls;
• Understand an important paradigm shift in adolescent programing based on research evidence

Keywords: Challenges and Opportunities, Adolescents, International

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Recorded presentation