Obstetric characteristics of two Mayan populations in the highlands of Guatemala

ABSTRACT

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to (1) describe and compare two obstetric Mayan populations in Guatemala, the Tz’utujil and the Kachiquel and (2) evaluate possible associations of demographics, wood fuel use, and obesity with pregnancy/newborn outcomes.

Design: This cross-sectional study interviewed participants at the time of routine obstetric ultrasounds at three institutions in Santiago Atitlán and one institution in San Lucas Tolimán. Data were collected from January 2010 to May 2013. Data entry and statistical analysis were performed using EPI Info^TM 7.1.2.0 (CDC).

Results: The two populations were similar in maternal age, BMI, ownership of a phone, gravidity (number of times a women has been pregnant), history of spontaneous abortions, history of term pregnancies, newborn birth weights, cesarean section rate, and percentage of low-birth-weight newborns (LBW < 2500 g). Obesity was present in 22% of the combined surveyed populations. Low-birth-weight newborns and newborn macrosomia (newborn birth weight greater than 4000 g) were present in 5.5% and 3.7%, respectively. The newborn gender ratio (male to female) was equal to 0.92. The two populations differed in ownership of gas stoves and percentage of newborn macrosomia.

Significant associations included: (1) female newborn gender and low birth weight, (2) obesity and newborn macrosomia, and (3) obesity and male gender.

Conclusion: The two Mayan populations were similar in many of the obstetric variables. The percentage of low-birth-weight infants (5.5%) is considerably lower than reported prevalence data for Guatemala. The obstetric characteristics, differences, and similarities between these two Mayan populations should help in policy planning for obstetric care for these two populations and possibly other indigenous populations in Guatemala.

KEYWORDS:

• Mayan
• Guatemala
• birthweight
• wood fuel
• newborn gender
• Tz’utujil
• Kachiquel
• obesity

Acknowledgments

The author wishes to thank Dr Rafael Tun, Medical director, SLT Parroquial Hospital, Guatemala for his help in Data Collection and Dr Jennifer Thoene, Mission Doctors Association, Los Angeles, CA, USA for her careful review of the paper.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

ORCID

Brent A. Burket http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3986-6402