In rural Nicaragua, giving birth can be dangerous. Long distances make complications during delivery a serious risk for many women.
That’s why Casa Materna—the government’s maternity waiting home system—is such a vital part of Nicaragua’s public health strategy. These homes offer pregnant women from remote communities a safe place to stay during the final weeks of pregnancy, close to a health facility where they can receive skilled care during childbirth.
Each woman has a bed, a place to cook, and the support of others who are going through the same journey. It’s a space of safety, solidarity, and preparation.
But even with the safety and care the Casa Materna provides, some women still hesitate to go.
💬 Supporting Space for Dialogue
During a recent visit to Villanueva, our AMOS team supported a space for dialogue with local brigadistas—community health workers who are vital in educating and encouraging pregnant women in their communities.
The goal was to reflect together on how to better communicate the importance of the Casa Materna, and how to support expectant mothers in making informed decisions during the final stages of pregnancy.
These kinds of conversations are essential. They give community health workers a chance to share experiences, identify common challenges, and build stronger, more compassionate messages that resonate in their communities.
And sometimes… those conversations include a little humor.
🌽 A Story from the Field
One brigadista shared a story that had the whole group smiling. She remembered a time when a young pregnant woman said she couldn’t go to the Casa Materna because her husband wouldn’t let her. In Nicaragua, this is a believable situation, as in some rural areas it is still common for husbands to exercise power over their wives’ decisions, including their access to health care. But in this case, the reality was quite different.
As her due date approached, her husband was the one helping her pack and prepare for the trip. Everything was ready—but when it came time to leave, she had disappeared.
It turns out she had snuck away into the cornfields, not wanting to leave her home.
The community had to go after her—literally searching the maize—to talk to her, listen to her concerns, and help her understand how the Casa Materna could protect both her and her baby.
It was a moment that made everyone laugh, but it also illustrated something deeper: change takes time, trust, and personal connection.
🤝 Standing with Community Health Leaders
At AMOS, we believe that lasting change doesn’t happen through information alone—it happens through relationships. When community health workers are supported to speak with empathy, confidence, and cultural understanding, they become powerful agents of health and hope.
In Villanueva and other communities, we’ll continue to walk alongside local leaders—offering tools, encouragement, and shared laughter—so that more women can choose safe births with dignity and care.
Even if it means chasing a few through the cornfields along the way.