Mexico

About Mexico

With an estimated 107 million people, Mexico has the third largest per capita income in Latin America, after Argentina and Chile, according to World Bank statistics. Although incomes have increased since 1994, roughly 40% of the population still live below the poverty line and income is unevenly distributed, especially in the south.

The southernmost state of Chiapas is home to 4 million people, more than 25% of whom are indigenous Mayan. Though one of the richest in natural resources, including petroleum and hydroelectric power, Chiapas is one of the poorest in terms of employment, education, and health. At 40%, the malnutrition rate is the highest in the country. Infant mortality in indigenous areas is more than double the national rate, and 60% more women die from pregnancy or labor-related complications than in the rest of the country.

Addressing health inequity was one of the main goals of the Zapatista (EZLN) uprising. After brief combat in 1994, Zapatista rebels and the Mexican government signed a peace accord still in effect today. However, many communities maintain allegiance to the Zapatista platform, which opposes privatization and advocates for indigenous rights to improve health care, control over use of natural resources, and education. They have declared autonomy from the state and have launched separate initiatives to address these problems.

Our Work in Mexico

• Education: Since 2004 we have trained more than 50 midwives in Chiapas in the American College of Nurse Midwives’ curriculum designed for indigenous practitioners.
• In 2008 we helped midwives establish their own legally recognized civil association, Tzoblej Chihchil Nich Romero. The association is self-governed by a board of indigenous midwives and is the first in the region to give community midwives a collective voice to increase their recognition within the health care system and gain better access to services for their clients.
• We have trained midwives to recognize obstetric emergencies and collaborated with other health care agencies to provide rapid transportation from women’s homes to the hospital when needed.

Read more in our Archives under “Program Updates.”