Crianza en la confluencia de culturas: Una evaluación de la relevancia cultural del programa Chile Crece Contigo en Putre, Chile

In 2006, the Chilean government began the implementation of a “program of integrated childhood protection” called Chile Crece Contigo. This program involves the cooperation of the public health, education, and legal systems of Chile in the support of the Rights of the Child ratified by the United Nations in 1989, and guarantees accessibility to the diverse historical and cultural communities of Chile. This study seeks to evaluate the cultural pertinence of Chile Crece Contigo as implemented in the public health system of the predominantly Aymaran community of Putre and recommend policy changes and further investigation for the improvement of its implementation in all Aymaran communities of Northern Chile. These objectives were pursued through three weeks of observation of program activities as well as interviews with key implementers of Chile Crece Contigo in Putre’s Rural Family Health Center, a practitioner of traditional Aymaran medicine and mothers whose children are enrolled or were enrolled in a variety of the services offered by the program. These results highlighted successful efforts by health practitioners in Putre to provide culturally relevant care through Chile Crece Contigo, but also policy failures and ongoing uncertainty considering best practices for cultural pertinence within the program. The conclusion was reached that several funding and logistical policies of Chile Crece Contigo need to be altered to better serve this rural, Aymaran community. Also, several in-depth longitudinal studies on traditional Aymaran upbringing and the common socioeconomic conditions of the Aymaran community in Chile should be carried out in order to determine further policy changes and best practices for Chile Crece Contigo.