92487 April 26, 2006
Improving Health and Nutrition of Mothers and Young Children in Guatemala
Infant and Maternal Health and Nutrition Project



Background                                                  President Wolfowitz visits a community
                                                            center of basic health in
While health outcomes in Guatemala have                     Chimaltenango - Apr. 28, 2006
improved over the last 15 years, maternal and                Photos | Video
infant mortality and chronic malnutrition rates are
                                                            President Wolfowitz visits Guatemala
much higher than would be expected, given the               Full coverage
country’s level of per capita income:
                                                             
        56 percent of chronically malnourished
                                                         
        children in Central America live in
        Guatemala.                                       
        49 percent of pre-school children in
        Guatemala are chronically malnourished.          
        The incidence of chronic malnutrition among
        indigenous communities and rural families is     
        70 percent and 56 percent respectively. 
                                                         
Chronic malnutrition makes children more likely to
die at a young age and to suffer irreparable                Financing
damage affecting their ability to learn, and future
                                                            Total cost : US$53 million
skills and productivity. 
                                                            IBRD loan amount: US$49 million
To prevent chronic malnutrition, the Government of
Guatemala is extending basic health services to the         Implementation period: Expected July
country’s 70 poorest municipalities through two             2006 to December 2011
programs:  Community Integrated Care of Children
                                                            Geographical area: the whole country
and Women (AIMN-C) and Creciendo Bien.
                                                            Implementing agency: Ministry of Health
The programs work directly with highly vulnerable
families (primarily indigenous) to provide  them with       More details
effective social and health services and to
                                                                Full project information & documents
encourage them to use these services.
                                                         
The World Bank is supporting the Government’s
programs through the Guatemala Infant and                
Maternal Health and Nutrition Project.
                                                         
Project objective
                                                         
To improve the health and nutrition status of
mothers and young children, with specific focus on
indigenous and rural communities.
                                                         
Project activities
                                                         
Strengthening Guatemala’s maternal and infant
                                                         
health referral network:
                                                        '
        Promoting the demand for maternal and
        infant health care.
        Upgrading 40 maternal and infant health
        clinics.
        Strengthening the referral system.
        Creating “maternal homes” to make it easier
        for women living in remote areas to give
        birth safely.

Supporting the Government’s efforts to address
child malnutrition in the 70 most vulnerable
(indigenous) communities:

       Expanding basic health services and
       community-based actions to promote
       children’s healthy growth.
       Expanding community-based actions to
       strengthen the capacity of mothers and
       families.

Expected impacts

       Reduce the rate of chronic malnutrition in
       children under two years old by 15 percent
       over five years.
       Reduce the indigenous/non-indigenous infant
       mortality and maternal mortality ratios by 10
       percent in five years.
       Increase the number of safe births in
       institutions by 15 percent in the selected
       communities.
       Increase self esteem and build capacity
       among indigenous mothers, promoting
       culturally acceptable and healthy food habits,
       hygiene and child care practices.

April 2006