Maternal and Neonatal Health. The maternal mortality rate in the Mesoamerican region is among the highest on the American continent. This is related to poor women’s limited access to safe childbirth, emergency obstetric care and family planning services.

Infant Mortality. The mortality rate of poor children under five years of age is 63.6 ‰, while the regional average is 33.3 ‰. In other words, compared to the regional average, twice as many children under five years of age die in the poorest 20 percent of the population.

Nutrition. Approximately 2.5 million children under five years of age suffer from chronic malnutrition in Mesoamerica. Each additional centimeter of height is associated with a higher cognitive level and school grade and, subsequently, to higher income in the labor market.

Malaria and Dengue. The incidence of malaria is concentrated in rural areas where the transmission level is high among the poorest children under five years of age and pregnant women. Dengue is common in poor neighborhoods that lack access to piped water or drainage systems.