Jonathan Latham, Utah Valley University
Social and Behavioral Sciences
Introduction: Guatemala has been subject to dictatorial regimes, crimes against humanity, civil war, and genocide. There are nearly 30 million people in need of prosthetics worldwide; two percent currently have access to appropriate prosthetic care. To combat this debilitating issue in Guatemala, Utah Valley University’s Mobility Mission (UVU-MM) travels once a year to manufacture high-quality, low-cost prosthetic legs for individuals in need. For two weeks, Julio Fuentes, Certified Prosthetist & Orthotics (CPO) lends his clinic, equipment, time, and expertise to UVU-MM. The goal of this research is to identify patterns, themes, concerns, and trends among amputees to secure their future well-being.
Methods: In July, 2013 the Mobility Team administered 18 questionnaires to participants. This questionnaire was approved and critiqued by the UVU IRB for the study. All questions were translated, given, and answered in the native Spanish language.
Results: Our research suggests 89% of participants reported having NO health insurance at the time of the accident. 91% of participants reported having NO outside resources/services available to secure employment. 38% of the surveyed individuals were women; the median age was 29. The majority of amputations took place between 24-27 years of age. The leading causes of amputation are: Health related issues such as diabetes, birth defects, infection; auto-related accidents such as hit-and-run and driver error; work related accidents such as electrocution.
Discussion: The discussed ideas will aid in moving UVU-MM’s observational study forward: Monitor the growth and need for affordable prosthesis; publish and raise awareness of amputees in Guatemala and other developing nations; continue research initiatives to improve the prosthetic device; inform legislators to reconfigure job security, healthcare, and employment services to minorities; especially amputees; provide socio-economic workshops concerning micro-finance, and micro-enterprise; address psychological needs as needed.