Interviews conducted January 2016 at the maternity waiting facility 'Casa Materna' in Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua. Interviews were one aspect of this years service trip to Nicaragua from Tompkins Cortland Community College, Dryden, N.Y.
Similar to How can we be of use? Interviewing expectant mothers at Casa Materna, Puerto Cabezas to better understand their health education needs. (20)
How can we be of use? Interviewing expectant mothers at Casa Materna, Puerto Cabezas to better understand their health education needs.
1. HOW CAN WE BE OF USE?
INTERVIEWING EXPECTANT MOTHERS AT CASA MATERNA, PUERTO
CABEZAS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THEIR HEALTH EDUCATION NEEDS.
Tc3 in Nicaragua, January 2016
2. CASA MATERNA
National* network of maternity waiting homes
Residential facilities located near hospitals
Used extensively by rural women nearing birth
Meant to improve access to skilled care
Maternity waiting homes are also found in many other countries across the world.
5. TC3 IN NICARAGUA
23 years visiting Puerto Cabezas with
Nursing students and faculty.
Recent movement to connect more
formally with MINSA.
Shift in emphasis towards community
health and health education.
7. WHAT SHOULD WE BE DOING?
With a shift in focus we have been given the opportunity to strengthen
connections, and build new relationships.
Asking women at Casa Materna about their lives and levels of exposure to health
education opens the door to more meaningful student projects.
We anticipate continuing the interview process in coming years.
15. TO SUPPLEMENT AND SUPPORT
Interviews were designed to reveal
educational opportunities to
supplement, support and re-inforce
existing educational programs, when
possible.
17. CONTACT INFORMATION
Paula Moore, RN, CNM, MSN
Professor of Nursing
TC3
MooreP@tc3.edu
PaulTreadwell
Instructor
TC3
PT006@tc3.edu
Editor's Notes
L, Van Lonkhuijzen, J Stekelenburg, and Van Roosmalen J. “Maternity Waiting Facilities for Improving Maternal and Neonatal Outcome in Low-Resource Countries ( Review ) Maternity Waiting Facilities for Improving Maternal and Neonatal Outcome in Low-Resource Countries.” 3 (2012): n. pag.
Nutrition education project by TC3 student at Casa Materna, Puerto Cabezas January 2015. Other educational projects form 2015 & 2016 included hand washing, dental care, menstrual cycle tracking
In the shift from a largely clinic based series of activities during the course of prior trips to a mixed itinerary of clinics and educational projects more recently new spaces have opened up for a more participatory and inclusive approach.
Data were collected using iPads and an online service which provided the ability to create a survey form online, download to iPad and conduct surveys offline, with collected data synchronized when access to wifi was re-established. Interviews spanned the course of 3 different visits to Casa Materna between January 4, 2016 and January 12, 2016.
We used a semi-structured interview approach, using the pre-established survey questions as a structure, while allowing for additional probing on issues raised during the course of the interviews. Schensul, S. L, Schensul, J. J, & LeCompte, M. Diane. (1999). Essential ethnographic methods : observations, interviews, and questionnaires. Walnut Creek, Calif.: AltaMira Press.
Translation and interpretation services were largely provided by 2 long term collaborators with the TC3 in Nicaragua program. Translations occurred from either Miskito or Spanish to English.
In one instance, when no Miskito to English translator was available on of the waiting mothers at Casa Materna provided Miskito to Spanish translation for us.
Casa Materna in Puerto Cabezas services a large area in the RAAN. The regional hospital Nuevo Amanecer is based in Puerto Cabezas and provides services for the region. Travel distances, as the crow flies, may be 100 to 120 miles but due to local conditions some Casa Materna guests travel 6 or more hours in order to reach the center. Bus services do not necessarily extend to remote communities and walks of several hours to reach a bus are not uncommon.
Basic information about household size and prior pregnancies
855 community health posts across Nicaragua generally staffed by a nurse or two provide primary health care, health promotion and disease prevention. MINSA run facilities receiving monthly supplies of medications. Much more predominant in the central and pacific regions of Nicaragua with 150 (plus or minus) located on the carribean coast (including RAAN and RAAS) Sequeira, M., Espinoza, H., Amador, J. J., Domingo, G., Quintanilla, M., & de los Santos, T. (2011). The Nicaraguan Health System. Seattle, Washington: PATH.
Top concern is, unsurprisingly, also the issue identified as unmet educational need.
Health education opportunities exist at the Casa Materna, local clinics and on the radio. We believe that student projects will be most effective if able to support existing health messages and education, when possible. MINSA and some NGO’s are actively working and developing educational resources. Our evolving relationships are leading to an increase in awareness of current and ongoing educational programs and will allow us to create student projects that work in combination with these efforts.