A Comparative Analysis of Mestizo and Indigenous Mayan Young Women in Guatemala: Attitudes and Knowledge of Sexual Reproduction and Health among Members of Children International's Youth Health Corps

Abstract

Children International’s Youth Health Corps Program uses Peer Education techniques to teach impoverished adolescents about Sexual Health and Reproduction. In the Youth Health Corps in Guatemala, both rural indigenous Maya youth and urban mestizo youth in Guatemala participate in the program together. In this comparative analysis of Kaqchikel Maya young women and non–indigenous young women in Guatemala, a written anonymous survey was administered to both groups of female participants to determine what similarities and differences exist in their beliefs and knowledge of sexual health and reproduction and sexuality. Although the groups have very different cultural backgrounds, their responses suggest that they are essentially interested in the same topics such as pregnancy and STD prevention. In addition, both groups of young women receive little information about sex from their parents, yet indigenous women are at a disadvantage to general reproductive knowledge as compared to their mestizo counterparts. The importance of protecting a woman’s virginity and honor is also reflected in both groups’ answers, although indigenous women appear to receive more warning about this than do non–indigenous adolescent women. Research suggests that parents play an extremely important role on how informed each group is on matters of sex and reproduction, as well as the values they hold with regard to the subject.