Global Speech-Language Health: Belize

Abstract

This independent field experience in global health explores the application of health promotion and service delivery models from the field of public health to speech-language services through descriptive research of the case in southern Belize. This project explores first steps in global speech-language health outreach for children living in very limited resource settings. Global speech-language health outreach includes community-wide interventions, fostering collaboration in the community and internationally, health education, building on local resources to expand health services, and special education program development. This project makes the assumption that a rich language environment may be a determinant of speech-language health. Speech-language interventions that enrich the linguistic environment may be a strong starting point for regions with very limited access to speech-language services. Therefore, this project looks at targeting social and environmental factors that influence language and literacy skills. The aim is to raise awareness of pediatric speech-language disability in southern Belize, with the ultimate goal of increasing school and community participation of children with speech-language disabilities. The purpose of this project is to explore points of entry for population-wide, environment-enriching, and culturally relevant intervention targeting communication and academic growth, in a limited resource setting. Furthermore, this project describes barriers to speech-language services and interventions in southern Belize.