While studying at the San Pedro Spanish School, my friend Sonja and I interviewed a family practice doctor from San Pedro La Laguna, Guatemala. Dr. Francisco Méndez tells us about perinatal care in Guatemala and the essential role played by las comadronas (midwives.) Without the comadronas, he says Guatemala’s health care system would collapse.
We interviewed him at his new 10-bed hospital where he hosts foreign students from Canada and the United States, to volunteer through the San Pedro Comprehensive Health Project. During their time at the hospital, volunteers learn about the culture, health care system and traditional medicine of Guatemala.
LEVEL -INTERMEDIATE
Table of Contents
- 0:51 Learn About Culture and Healthcare in Guatemala
- 4:08 The Essential Role of las Comadronas
- 7:43 Working Collaboratively with las Comadronas
Learn About Culture and Healthcare in Guatemala
Vocabulary
los estudiantes extranjeros
foreign students
los voluntarios médicos
medical volunteers
los voluntarios no médicos
non-medical volunteers
el sistema de salud
healthcare system
la medicina tradicional
traditional medicine
la comadrona, partera
midwife
el parto
birth, delivery
Entrevista
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The Essential Role of las Comadronas
4:08Vocabulario
los controles prenatales
prenatal visits or check-ups
colapsar
to collapse
el sistema de salud colapsaría
the healthcare system would collapse
proveedor
provider
las mujeres embarazadas
pregnant women
el cuidado
care
el cuidado de mujeres embarazadas
the care of pregnant women
cubrir
to cover
cubrir el noventa porciento de los controles prenatales
to cover 90% of prenatal visits
atender
to take care of
atender el parto
to deliver a baby
Entrevista
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Working Collaboratively with las Comadronas
7:43Vocabulario
colaborar
to collaborate
el conocimiento
knowledge
efectivo
effective
la episiotomía
episiotomy
de forma colaborativa
in a collaborative manner
el respeto
respect
el personal
staff, personnel
Entrevista
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¡Gracias por escuchar!
As you heard, las comadronas play an essential role in the healthcare system of Guatemala and Dr. Méndez has great respect for the work they do. To learn more about the work of a comadrona, check out the interview with la comadrona Ester.
We’ll be back soon for the second part of this interview, where we ask Dr. Mendez more specific questions about prenatal care in Guatemala and review some very useful vocabulary.
More Interviews from Guatemala
- Names from the Spanish-Speaking World
- Chikungunya and Zika: Patient Interviews in Spanish
- Curanderismo (Folk Medicine)
- Interview with a Comadrona
¡Hasta pronto!
The lessons offered at docmolly.com are a fun way to practice medical Spanish. They are not intended to teach medicine or provide medical advice. These lessons are intended to improve communication with Spanish-speaking patients, but they are not intended to substitute for a qualified medical interpreter.
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Hi. I cannot see the complete Women’s Health podcast, but I’m already a premium member. I do not have access to this content?
Hello,
Thanks for these great podcasts!
I am a volunteer nurse at the nonprofit Health & Help clinic near Momostenango, Guatemala, where we provide affordable health care to the rural K’iche’ population. We’d love to connect with Dr. Mendez and learn more about his program. Maybe we could collaborate in some ways, and it would be great if we could give patient referrals to his facility. Can you share any more information about the program, or provide any contact information?
Also, feel free to spread the word about the Health&Help clinic, we are always looking for more medical volunteers! And it provides a great opportunity to quickly improve your medical Spanish!
Hola Rose,
You are welcome. I am glad you like the podcasts. I recommend trying to contact Dr. Méndez through his program’s Facebook page.
Saludos,
Molly