Mayan midwives acknowledged for their work in Guatemala

Guatemala has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in Latin America, at 140 deaths per every 100,000 births – five times higher than in the United States.

More than 300,000 women around the world die each year from preventable pregnancy-related complications. It is estimated that in Guatemala, medical professionals attend only 25 percent of births.

Traditional Mayan birth attendants, known as Comadronas or “midwives”, attend 60 percent to 75 percent of all births – and up to 90 percent in rural areas.

More than 22,000 Comadronas are officially registered in Guatemala, but their numbers may be much higher.

The “National Comadrona Guideline” contains important elements like the knowledge of traditional birth attendants and the history of relations between them and the state-run health system.

(CGTN)