GUATEMALA Oral Hygiene Molly Ong N 4 KU

GUATEMALA Oral Hygiene Molly Ong, N 4 KU School of Nursing

Trip Objectives: ■ Purpose: The KU SON team traveled to Patanatic, Guatemala in order to provide medical check-ups to this population and the surrounding areas as well as to learn about the healthcare system and the culture of Guatemala. ■ Health Indicator: Throughout the check-ups performed during our trip, significant amounts of dental caries were noted on a large amount of the population.

Background of Guatemala ■ – – – Age structure 0 -14 years: 38. 1% 15 -64 years: 58% 65 years and over: 3. 9% ■ Fertility rate= 3. 27 children born/woman ■ Infant mortality rate= 29. 77 deaths/ 1, 000 births ■ Literacy rate – Male= 76. 03 Female= 72. 54% ■ Primary Language: Spanish 60%

Patanatic, Guatemala ■ Patanatic overlooks Lake Atitlan and is located approximately 10 minutes away from nearby, Panajachel ■ Patanatic is located on a mountain divided up into villages, or sectors ■ About a 3 bus ride from Guatemala city

La Clinica de Patanatic ■ The SON team partnered with Woodland Public Charities and assisted with check-ups at a health clinic in Patanatic and nearby Elementary Schools ■ Located in Sector 2 of Patanatic ■ Serves up to 1500 people ■ Served by 2 nurses, Ana and Sonia ■ Medical Student will join the nurses once he becomes a Physician and will perform basic surgeries in the clinic

Health Indicator ■ While assisting with the check-ups at the clinic and schools, we recognized that many of the students had dental caries ■ Oral health is important because evidence has linked oral health to several chronic diseases, including diabetes, heart disease, and stroke ■ In pregnant women, poor oral health has also been associated with premature births and low birth weight

Barriers to Oral Health ■ Limited access and availability to dental services, lack of awareness for need of care, and cost all serve as barriers to oral health in this area ■ Students were encouraged to brush their teeth at school, but many do not own a toothbrush of their own at home.

Interventions for Oral Care Individual Interventions • Students keep toothbrushes at school • Visit clinic for oral health education and a new toothbrush Community Interventions System Interventions • Woodland Public Charities receives toothbrush donations that are given to families at the clinic and at schools • Schools educate the community about the importance of oral care (hypothetical) ■ Government funding for more dentists and affordable dental care ■ Advertisements on billboards, social media, TV about the importance of oral health

Most Profound Academic Experience My most profound educational moment in Patanatic, Guatemala was when we got to visit the midwife, or “comrodrone, ” at her home. She demonstrated a basic assessment on a pregnant woman. It was interesting to hear her speak about the traditional birthing process. She focused on spiritual medicine and told us about her calling from God to become a comrodrone. She travels throughout the whole village to the homes of all laboring patients at all times of the day and night.

Most Profound Cultural Experiences Exploring the streets and “bartering” in Panajachel Visiting the Mayan Ruins Learning about traditions and dying thread to make scarves/blankets

References Demographics of Guatemala. (2016). Retrieved March 17, 2014 from http: //www. worldlibrary. org/articles/demographicsofguatemala Oral Health. (2016). Retrieved March 24, 2016 from http: //www. healthypeople. gov/2020/leading-healthindicators/2020 -lhi-topics/Oral. Health