Reproductive Health in Rural Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador by Kristen Connors
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Transcript of Reproductive Health in Rural Peru, Bolivia and Ecuador by Kristen Connors
Reproductive Health in Rural Peru, Bolivia, and EcuadorKristen Connors, University of Louisville, Class of 2014
Project ObjectivesA. Further understanding of rural reproductive health B. To gain firsthand practical experience in the field of Public
HealthC. Begin to investigate issues for future thesis ethnography
researchD. Establish initial connections within academic and public
health institutions
Background• Anthropology, Spanish Majors; International Health Studies,
Latin American Studies Minors• Summer 2011: Study Abroad and Volunteer Program, Santiago,
Dominican Republic Studied Caribbean and Latin American cultures Improved Spanish fluency through immersion
Learned Medical Spanish Performed basic medical procedures Learned of major health problems, public health challenges,
disparities Fall 2011-Spring 2012: Study Abroad for two semesters in Lima,
Peru Volunteer with Inppares (IPPF affiliate)
Enrichment Project1. Internship at Inppares (Instituto Peruano de Paternidad
Responsible, IPPF affiliate) Puno, Peru: Worked for two months at Inppares with youth programming, clinic procedures, family planning counseling, and in the laboratory
2. Preliminary Thesis Research, Bolivia, Ecuador: Explored research options for next summer’s enrichment, focused on indigenous reproductive beliefs. Established contact with professionals in academia and in the field of reproductive health in La Paz, Bolivia, Guayaquil, Ecuador, and Quito, Ecuador.
3. Field Visits in Rural Peru: Visited Ayacucho and Arequipa, Peru to learn more about indigenous populations’ access to health care in different parts of the Andes. Participated in maternal health initiative in communities in Ayacucho, because of Salud Sin Limites Peru internship in Lima.
Summer 2011: Excursion to the Caribbean Sea
Youth education group during an event concerning reproductive rights
Left: mothers participating in the ARA project in Huanta, Ayacucho.
Above: one of the communities visited, typical of the rural Andes
Accomplishments• Gained greater understanding of the context for
reproductive health in Peru. Contributed to basis for internship at Salud Sin Limites
• Improved competency in family planning and learned of reproductive beliefs and customs of the indigenous and/or rural populations
• Identified challenges in attending to these target populations
• Selected possible thesis topic and collaborating partners
Floating Islands on Lake Tititcaca in Puno, Peru, home to the Uros population
Future Goals• Brown Fellows Enrichment 2013: Honors Anthropology
thesis in the Bolivian Highlands researching indigenous reproductive health beliefs in relation to contemporary family planning
Graduate School: Masters of Public Helath, Doctorate in Medical Anthropology
Career goals: work to achieve culturally accessible health care for marginalized populations through intercultural health solutions under NGO programs and public policy
Carrying out a laboratory exam
Fall 2011- Spring 2012Study abroad in Lima, PeruExcursion to Machu Pichu