The intersection of language, culture and healthcare in Maya Guatemala

Peter Rohloff, MD PhD Medical Director Wuqu Kawoq | Maya Health Alliance

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Frequency

12 10 8 6 4 2 0 -5 -4.5 -4 -3.5 -3 -2.5 -2 -1.5 -1 -0.5 0 0.5 1 1.5 2 2.5 3 3.5 Z-score

www.abc.com

www.wikipedia.org

Roj j mayab oj mestan kan

No education No food

Language barriers

Patients
No work

Services

Ignorant Lazy Unmotivated Backwards

Why Mayan Languages?

1) Ri jun chi ri jun yawa jebel nutzijoj pe achike ri qaxomal ruchajin (The patient should be able to easily communicate with the doctor)

2) Ri jun chik chi ma nqamestaj ta ri qatzij (The active maintenance and recovery of speech)

Tummons et al 2011

Language Loss and Health

1) Language barriers = poor health 2) Language loss = glass ceiling = poor health

Behavior Change is a Linguistic Problem

Unintelligible Spanish Loan Word Diabetes Neologism Rujotolem rukabil kik Gloss Height of the bloods sugar

Artritis
Infeccin urinaria Vagina Colesterol Asma

Rusipojik baq
Itzel chuluj Rubey ri ney Ruqanal kik Rutzapatajik pospoy

The bones swelling

Bad urine The path of the baby The bloods marrow Closing-off of the lungs

Tummons et al 2008

Why Does Civil Society Matter?

Thanks! Matyx chiwe www.wuqukawoq.org www.mayahealth.org peter@wuqukawoq.org