Fight Rising Malnutrition in Rural Guatemala

One of the most exciting aspects of our work is the constant cycle of learning and adapting to provide the best possible care for our patients. A recent example is our “Baby Mobile” project, in which we are collaborating with researchers at Emory University on a study on the impact of using a smartphone application to help new mothers in rural Guatemala support their young children’s development.

In Guatemala, particularly in rural areas, parents normally don’t have access to information about typical developmental milestones and what they can do to encourage steps like sitting up and talking. In the Baby Mobile project, mothers learn about what they can do to foster their children’s development and how to work some of these simple activities into their days. They record their child’s sleep, food intake, and activity on the app and get customized feedback based on recommendations in each of these areas depending on their child’s age and health status.

This innovative approach leverages the popular use of smartphones in rural Guatemala to provide primary caregivers with the information and feedback they need to foster optimal development for their children. It underscores the importance of not only a nutritious diet but also adequate sleep and activities like playing, talking, and singing with their children. This is critical work in Guatemala, where 70% of under-5 children are at risk of sub-optimal development.

We’re also studying the use of wearable sensors, like leg wraps, to detect early signs of developmental delays, and the impact of daily egg consumption on infant growth and development. 

Thank you for supporting this life-changing work!

Links:

• Read more about our research.

A lot of our success closing health gaps in rural Guatemala relies on the efforts of our patients and families. We bring the expertise, medical equipment, and nutrients; they contribute the wisdom, dedication, and daily care required to achieve and sustain health.

One inspiring example is Doña Rosa, a mother who worked ferociously to help her daughter Genesis thrive. When we met Genesis three years ago in her village outside of Panajachel, she was weak from malnutrition and a chronic lung disease. Over the years, we partnered closely with Doña Rosa to make sure that Genesis got the care and nutrition she needed to get her lung disease under control and nudge her weight and height to healthy levels. It worked. Genesis, now four years old, has been managing well. Sadly, Doña Reyna, who had dedicated herself to bringing her daughter to good health, died recently from Covid. We are now working with Genesis' aunt so that she will not lose ground.

So far in 2021, our Family-Centered Nutrition Program has benefited 584 children. Partnering with their caregivers, we have helped ensure these children are eating more frequent, nutritious meals and making gains in their weight, height, and development. 

In addition to working hand-in-hand with families, we are working at a systems level to tackle malnutrition throughout Guatemala. We have developed a master class to share the strategies that have enabled us to reduce malnutrition across communities by 40%. These efforts are essential; Guatemala has one of the highest rates of child malnutrition in the world. Together with families and other NGO and government partners, we are committed to changing this reality by expanding the fight to reduce malnutrition and its lifelong consequences across the country.

Thank you for making this lifesaving work possible!