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Understanding the Health Needs among Indigenous Mayan Communities of Lake Atitlan

Considering the changes the Lake Atitlan, Guatemala region has undergone in the last several years, ODIM (Organization for the Development of the Indigenous Maya) seeks to understand the needs of the San Juan La Laguna and San Pablo La Laguna communities, and to provide competent, culturally-aligned care that is affordable to the Indigenous Maya of this region. Using mixed-methods approaches that incorporate interviews, surveys, graphic anthropology, and evaluation methods, this study investigated (1) the formal and informal health care services (including those offered by ODIM) and how and why they are utilized by local Guatemalans, (2) Guatemalan perceptions and experiences of health, wellbeing, and illness to understand how they might influence health related behavior, and (3) community health care needs and how ODIM can fill those needs. These objectives served to inform key stakeholders of current gaps in healthcare services, provide feedback regarding the ODIM health services and programs, and provide insight into the current health needs in order to ameliorate the burden of disease and illness around Lake Atitlan, Guatemala. This study produced a comprehensive community health profile, and it discusses the current state of health care, explains the local perspectives of health care, and gives direct feedback and recommendations to ODIM's community health programs.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:unt.edu/info:ark/67531/metadc1707368
Date08 1900
CreatorsKoyuncuoglu, Leyla Maria
ContributorsHenry, Lisa, Nelson, Andrew, Hall-Clifford, Rachel
PublisherUniversity of North Texas
Source SetsUniversity of North Texas
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeThesis or Dissertation
Formatxiii, 154 pages, Text
RightsPublic, Koyuncuoglu, Leyla Maria, Copyright, Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise noted. All rights Reserved.

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