Honduras

Population:

  • 9,893,372 (estimate based on 2020 elaboration of United Nations data) [1]

  • Infant mortality rate: 5.9 per 1,000 live births (2020 estimate) [1]

Economy:

  • One of fastest-growing economies in Central America, behind only Panama (before COVID-19, had 2.7% growth in 2019). [2]

  • Still, extreme levels of poverty (48.3% in 2018) persist, with rural people bearing the brunt (60.1% living below poverty line). [2]

Politics:

  • A largely dysfunctional government marked by rampant corruption, violent government crackdowns, and lack of trust in institutions. [3]

  • High rates of violent crime and domestic violence contribute to the outflux of migrants seeking asylum in other countries. [3]

Sources:

  1. Worldometer, “Honduras” (2020)

  2. World Bank, “Honduras Overview” (2020)

  3. Human Rights Watch, “World Report 2020: Honduras”

HEALTHCARE

National healthcare model adopted in 2013, but implementation has been scattershot since then [1]:

  • Has focused primarily on improving facilities and services in rural areas where a large percentage of the population lives. [1]

  • “Social audits” aimed at giving community members more oversight to combat corruption. [1]

Plans for universal public health insurance unveiled in 2015, with benefits and services to be provided by public and private sectors [2]

  • Poorly funded, lack of oversight, issues with corruption. [2]

Sources:

  1. Millenium Challenge Corporation, “Grassroots Groups and NGOs Tackle Rural Healthcare Challenges in Honduras” (2018)

  2. Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization, “Country Report: Honduras (2015)

 ONGOING ISSUES

  • Femicide, sexual violence, forced prostitution [1]

  • Human trafficking [1]

  • Lack of access to healthcare, especially for indigineous women [1]

  • Extreme poverty and related issues (ex. malnutrition) [2]

  • Poor water quality and sanitation [3]

  • Difficulty of providing services in rural areas [3]

Sources:

  1. Center for Gender and Refugee Studies, “Thousands of Girls and Women are Fleeing Rape, Sexual Violence and Torture in Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala” 

  2. Current Women’s Health Reviews, “Women’s Health in Central America: The Complexity of Issues and the Need to Focus on Indigienous Healthcare” (2013)

  3. Rural and Remote Health, “Water sanitation, access, use, and self-reported diarrheal disease in rural Honduras” (2013)

 OBSERVED SOLUTIONS

Improving training and resources for traditional birth attendants (TBAs):

  • Already strong and persuasive advocates for behaviors like breastfeeding and skin-to-skin contact.

  • Could be more effective if trained in other practices (e.g. thermal care) and taught to recognize neonatal symptoms, as well as suggest solutions.

Partnerships between World Food Program, NGOs, and local residents to combat malnutrition:

  • Programs like Project Leche founded to provide more well-balanced meals to children (1 in 4 affected by chronic malnutrition).

  • Local farmers, teachers, and community members enlisted to deliver messages.

Sources:

  1. The Journal of Perinatal and Neonatal Nursing, “Neonatal Care in the Home in Northern Rural Honduras: A Qualitative Study of the Role of Traditional Birth Attendants” (2013)

  2. Kerry Health and Nutrition Institute, “Delivering Nutrition to Honduran Children Through the World Food Programme” (2018)

KEY QUESTIONS FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION

How can longer-term programs boost the effectiveness of CHW interventions? 

What types of supplies (e.g. water filters, smokeless stoves) are most urgently needed?

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