Overview of Results
Focus groups: Eleven focus groups were held
from nine groups of women/girls. These nine
groups included church women, sex workers,
females 13-15 years of age, females 16-19 years
of age, mothers' clubs, females 50 years of age
or older, Haitian women and males 19-24.
Focus groups revealed that the top 5 problems
faced by women in the community were:
School survey: 120 girls age 13 to 23. 87%
between the ages of 14 and 18. All between
grades 8 and 12. The survey addressed
15 categories:
Results: 99% believed the Women's Center was a
good idea and 79% said they would definitely use
the Women's Center themselves. The top 3
Women's Center services requested from school
surveys were.
The Top 3 problems identified from school surveys
Focus groups: Eleven focus groups were held
from nine groups of women/girls. These nine
groups included church women, sex workers,
females 13-15 years of age, females 16-19 years
of age, mothers' clubs, females 50 years of age
or older, Haitian women and males 19-24.
Focus groups revealed that the top 5 problems
faced by women in the community were:
- Lack of work opportunities
- Domestic Violence
- Delinquency of youth
- Inadequate healthcare
- HIV/AIDS
School survey: 120 girls age 13 to 23. 87%
between the ages of 14 and 18. All between
grades 8 and 12. The survey addressed
15 categories:
- Demographic Information
- Sources of Information on sexual and
reproductive health - Sexual and Reproductive Health Knowledge
- Sexual and Reproductive Health Services
- Sexual and Reproductive Health Outcomes
- Emotional Health
- Self esteem and Body Image
- Beliefs/Peer Pressure regarding sex
- Knowledge and Beliefs regarding Sexual
Protection - Sexual Conduct
- First Sexual Partner
- Alcohol, Tobacco, and Illicit drugs
- Violence
- Future Plans and Goals
- Women's Health Center
Results: 99% believed the Women's Center was a
good idea and 79% said they would definitely use
the Women's Center themselves. The top 3
Women's Center services requested from school
surveys were.
- sex education
- youth counseling
- HIV AIDS Education
The Top 3 problems identified from school surveys
- sex too early with lack of knowledge
- teen pregnancy
- teens have poor relationships with parents
and need someone to talk to
Social Research
Above, the steering committee, from left to right:
Kerry Kelly, Juana Marte, José Bourget, Annette
Snyder, Rosanna Pérez, Melodie Rodriguez,
Alexandra Drullar, Breina Flores, Dr. César
Rodríguez and Antolina Henríquez.
The creation of a steering committee provided
the starting point for the research project that
would create the conceptual foundation for the
Holistic Health Women's Center sponsored by
Fundación Mahatma Gandhi in Las Terrenas.
The first activity was conducting scientific and
specialized research procedures about key
indicators of women's health, including
psychological, demographic, physical and
reproductive health, medical and sexual
practices as well as risk factors and family
composition.
The procedures included focus groups, open
sessions, school surveys and individual
interviews conducted by previously-trained
volunteers. These survey results provided the
necessary data for the next step in the evolution
of the project, that of writing grants that would
allow the necessary funds to get the Center up
and running.
Directors of the project are Annette Snyder who
holds a masters degree in family and educational
counseling, and José Bourget, Ph.D., educador
and social researcher. The research protocol
was coordinated by nurse practitioner Kerry
Kelly from the U.S.A., who holds a masters
degree in public health and also in nursing. In
addition, Ms. Kelly is an specialist in HIV/AIDS
education and prevention.
Foundation's volunteers conducted most of the
activities between March and September 2008.
Above, the steering committee, from left to right:
Kerry Kelly, Juana Marte, José Bourget, Annette
Snyder, Rosanna Pérez, Melodie Rodriguez,
Alexandra Drullar, Breina Flores, Dr. César
Rodríguez and Antolina Henríquez.
The creation of a steering committee provided
the starting point for the research project that
would create the conceptual foundation for the
Holistic Health Women's Center sponsored by
Fundación Mahatma Gandhi in Las Terrenas.
The first activity was conducting scientific and
specialized research procedures about key
indicators of women's health, including
psychological, demographic, physical and
reproductive health, medical and sexual
practices as well as risk factors and family
composition.
The procedures included focus groups, open
sessions, school surveys and individual
interviews conducted by previously-trained
volunteers. These survey results provided the
necessary data for the next step in the evolution
of the project, that of writing grants that would
allow the necessary funds to get the Center up
and running.
Directors of the project are Annette Snyder who
holds a masters degree in family and educational
counseling, and José Bourget, Ph.D., educador
and social researcher. The research protocol
was coordinated by nurse practitioner Kerry
Kelly from the U.S.A., who holds a masters
degree in public health and also in nursing. In
addition, Ms. Kelly is an specialist in HIV/AIDS
education and prevention.
Foundation's volunteers conducted most of the
activities between March and September 2008.
Community interviews: 139 interviews from
5 barrios.
40 to 50 yrs old, 13% >50 yrs old
Top 5 Women's Center services requested:
Top 5 Problems identified through community
interviews
Women's Center program planning: based on top
3 needs identified
5 barrios.
- Barrio Hospital
- Barrio Play
- Barrio Columbia
- Barrio Codetel
- Barrio Come Pan
40 to 50 yrs old, 13% >50 yrs old
Top 5 Women's Center services requested:
- women's health services
- counseling services
- educational services
- vocational training
- diet and nutritional services
Top 5 Problems identified through community
interviews
- economic dependence on men
- domestic violence
- lack of affordable childcare
- lack of quality healthcare services
(especially menopause treatment and
preventive healthcare services) - depression
Women's Center program planning: based on top
3 needs identified
- Economic Development
- Micro credit program
- Vocational training
- Job assistance
- Daycare for children of women living in
poverty so they can work - Domestic violence
- Education campaign in schools and
community. Also to include a "men against
domestic violence" campaign. - Counseling services for women affected by
domestic violence - Safe house for women removing themselves
from a violent relationship - legal service support
- Sex and Reproductive health
- Program to assist schools in developing and
implementing sex and reproductive education
programs - Community education programs directed at
adolescents and women (including condom
negotiation strategies) - Youth counseling services
- Preventive healthcare services
- HIV AIDS education
Las Terrenas Holistic Health Women's Center
Fostering the holistic health of women through preventive, training and
educational means, from puberty to menopause.
Fostering the holistic health of women through preventive, training and
educational means, from puberty to menopause.
Fundación Mahatma Gandhi
Global Vision, Local Development
Global Vision, Local Development
| "Be the change you wish to see in the world." Mahatma Gandhi |
Opening page, here.
Diagnostics & Community Research, here.
FULL PROJECT PROPOSAL, here.
PROJECT COMPONENTS, here.
Start of micro-credits, here.
TO HELP, please go here.
Cardiovascular Research Project, here.
First medical-dental operative, here.
First Women's Medical Operative, here.
Women's Medical Operative report, here,
FMG home page in English, here.
VOLUNTEER PROGRAM, here.
Women's Project in spanish, here.
Diagnostics & Community Research, here.
FULL PROJECT PROPOSAL, here.
PROJECT COMPONENTS, here.
Start of micro-credits, here.
TO HELP, please go here.
Cardiovascular Research Project, here.
First medical-dental operative, here.
First Women's Medical Operative, here.
Women's Medical Operative report, here,
FMG home page in English, here.
VOLUNTEER PROGRAM, here.
Women's Project in spanish, here.
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
Dr. José Rivero, a Dominican physician from
Boston, Massachusetts (USA) participating in
the cardiovascular research project in Spring
2007. 1072 subjects benefited.
Boston, Massachusetts (USA) participating in
the cardiovascular research project in Spring
2007. 1072 subjects benefited.