Introduction
Please contact us before you apply to determine the availability of spots if you are interested in applying for this program between April and August! Thank you.
The Women's Reproductive Health in Mexico program takes place in Puerto Escondido, a small seaside town in the state of Oaxaca. There, students will gain exposure to many of the challenges that women in rural Mexico face when managing their reproductive health. In addition to rotations in local clinics and public healthcare centers, students will take medical and conversational Spanish classes at a local language school. During clinical rotations, students will have the opportunity to see Puerto Escondido's healthcare system for women in a variety of settings. Opportunities range from working in primary care clinics to participating in rural reproductive healthcare programs with midwives or parteras. Overall, Mexico has a maternal mortality rate of approximately 83 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, a number which is often higher in poorer, more rural states such as Oaxaca. Over 60% of registered births in this coastal region are performed by parteras in the home. By the end of the program participants will have a clear understanding of the way the public healthcare system is organized in the coastal region of Oaxaca to address women's health issues. Participants may be able to participate in monthly educational workshops for women that are a part of the world famous comprehensive program with origins in rural Mexico, Oportunidades. Its success has been widely evaluated and recognized and is now being replicated by governments worldwide, including in New York City (for more information on Oportunidades, please visit their website at: http://www.oportunidades.gob.mx/).
Read the Why CFHI bullet on the right side menu to find out more about the goals and objectives of CFHI programs as well as the service-learning concept. For quotes and stories from students who participated in the Womens Reproductive Health, Mexico program, see the What Alumni Say section (right side menu). If you would like to speak to alumni of this program via email, please contact alumni@cfhi.org for more information.We look forward to having you join our grassroots work to build a global community in support of better healthcare for underserved communities!CFHI’s Social Networking Sites: Join our groups below for the latest updates on CFHI and to connect to CFHI participants and alumni.