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Health and poverty in Guatemala

Author

Listed:
  • Gragnolati, Michele
  • Marini, Alessandra

Abstract

Unlike many other countries in Latin America, Guatemala is only at the beginning of the demographic, and epidemiological transition. The population is young, is growing rapidly, and is still primarily rural. Guatemala is among the worst performers in terms of health outcomes in Latin America, with one of the highest infant mortality rates, and one of the lowest life expectancies at birth. Major causes of death in Guatemala still include treatable, and communicable diseases, such as diarrhea, pneumonia, cholera, malnutrition, and tuberculosis. A significant share of Guatemalans lack access to health care services. A combination of both supply- and demand-side constraints limit the ability of households to seek health care services in Guatemala, with supply-side constraints playing a more dominant role in rural areas than urban. Some progress has been made in reforming the health sector. Important steps have been taken on the institutional side, with health being one of the pilot ministries to decentralize financial management under the Integrated System for Health Care (SIAS program). Public spending has shifted toward preventive care, which is essential for treating the health problems faced by the poor. Despite these efforts, spending and health outcomes has not improved significantly. In addition, public spending on health is not well targeted. Overall, public health spending benefits the highest quintiles disproportionately, By type of facility, public spending on hospitals is by far the more regressive.

Suggested Citation

  • Gragnolati, Michele & Marini, Alessandra, 2003. "Health and poverty in Guatemala," Policy Research Working Paper Series 2966, The World Bank.
    • Handle: RePEc:wbk:wbrwps:2966
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. World Bank, 2000. "Guatemala : Expenditure Reform in a Post-Conflict Country," World Bank Publications - Reports 15481, The World Bank Group.
    2. Anne Pebley & Paul Stupp, 1987. "Reproductive patterns and child mortality in guatemala," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 24(1), pages 43-60, February.
    3. repec:pri:indrel:opr9803 is not listed on IDEAS
    4. Selden, Thomas M. & Wasylenko, Michael J., 1992. "Benefit incidence analysis in developing countries," Policy Research Working Paper Series 1015, The World Bank.
    5. repec:pri:indrel:opr9803.pdf is not listed on IDEAS
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    Cited by:

    1. Carletto, Calogero & Covarrubias, Katia & Maluccio, John A., 2011. "Migration and child growth in rural Guatemala," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(1), pages 16-27, February.
    2. Maupin, Jonathan Nathaniel, 2009. "'Fruit of the accords': Healthcare reform and civil participation in Highland Guatemala," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 68(8), pages 1456-1463, April.
    3. Cristia, Julian & Prado, Ariadna García & Peluffo, Cecilia, 2015. "The Impact of Contracting in and Contracting out Basic Health Services: The Guatemalan Experience," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 215-227.

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