PSI

Guatemala has a rich culture with archaeological findings that date civilization as far back as 18,000 BC. The mountainous country is home to almost 13 million people – 75% of whom live below the poverty line. 1 As one of the 10 poorest countries in Latin America, the majority of Guatemalans lack access to high-quality healthcare, including reproductive health services and HIV prevention.

PSI/Guatemala was founded in 1997 to improve prevention of HIV/AIDS using social marketing, as part of PASMO (Pan American Social Marketing Association).2 Since then, PSI/PASMO Guatemala has added voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) services, and family planning (FP) to its portfolio. Since September 2008, PSI/PASMO Guatemala has increased its number of employees from 17 to 82, including 40 FP health community workers.

1. 1. Source: The World Bank, Guatemala: An Assessment of Poverty.
2. 2. Source: PASMO is a network of locally-registered social marketing entities in the seven countries of Central America, with headquarters in Guatemala.

Health Areas

HIV, Reproductive Health

Health Impact

PASMO Guatemala estimates that in 2010, its products and services helped avert:

• 2,274 HIV & TB DALYs1
• 4,589 Reproductive Health DALYs
1. 1. Source: The DALY (Disability-Adjusted Life Year) is a widely-used, credible metric that was first developed by the World Bank and is now routinely relied upon in the public health community.

Health Interventions

• HIV Counseling and Testing
• Family Planning/HIV Integration
• Men Who Have Sex with Men
• Sex Workers

Improving Health in Guatemala

Reproductive Health

The WHP project began in July 2008 with LTM services beginning in January 2009. Doctors, nurses and coordinators work with the MOH to offer these FP methods, and community workers offer outreach activities. INTRAHEALTH trained four master trainers, who are responsible for training more providers during “event days.” More than 22,000 women have received one FP method to date.

HIV

Less than 1% of adult Guatemalans are estimated to be HIV-positive. However, because of the country’s large size, it accounts for nearly one-sixth of Central America’s HIV-infected population.1 Infections occurr most frequently among men who have sex with men (MSM) and sex workers.

PSI/PASMO Guatemala’s HIV project includes:

• Behavior change communication (BCC) activities carried out by staff, as well as other NGO and independent educators.
• VCT services.
• Youth activities that educate low-income youth about safer sex behaviors and encourage peer teaching.
• Social marketing of condoms that are highly subsidized and distributed in high-risk zones.

Latest News

• Event: Working Toward Reducing Maternal Mortality and Increasing Access to Reproductive Health
  October 29, 2010