For cross-cultural global health programs it’s critical to ensure that there is compatibility between the values of the program and the recipient culture.  Since most Tarahumara women live several hours or days away from the nearest clinic or hospital they suffer one of the highest rates of maternal mortality in North America.  Of course it would be ideal if the women were giving birth in clinics or hospitals but women hesitate to make the long and difficult trip–especially if labor has started.  They typically end up having their babies alone or with an untrained birth attendant.  Part of One HEART’s plan is to conduct a maternal health education program for the local Parteras (traditional birth attendants) and give them a few basic items like sterile blades to cut the umbilical cord.

Teresa, local Partera

Ninety percent of the women who die in childbirth do so because of postpartum hemorrhage.  Administering drugs like Oxytocin to women who are having postpartum bleeding causes the uterus to contract and very effectively stops the bleeding.  Unfortunately, Oxytocin has to be kept refrigerated.  Another very effective drug for post partum hemorrhage, Misoprostol, does not need refrigeration and is very inexpensive—therefore an ideal drug for the Parteras to have on hand.  Unfortunately, because ‘Miso’ can also be used to induce an abortion, it has not been allowed to be used in the heavily Catholic Tarahumara Sierra. 

Arlene Samen the executive director of One HEART traveled to Mexico City to see if she could get the ban on ‘Miso’ lifted in the Tarahumara Sierra if proper precautions against misuse were taken.  The Mexican authorities who have been extremely welcoming to One HEART are taking Arlene’s request into consideration.  If approved it will be a huge victory for the Tarahumara women and their families.