24 Solving Health Problems
Step 6: Decide on the
best treatment. Always
remember to think
about possible risks and
When Juanita felt satisfied that modern
medicines were the best treatment for
her health problem, Don Pedro gave
Juanita some pills called doxycycline and
benefits (see below). ciprofloxacin and told her to come back
in a week, after she had taken them all. He also
explained that her husband, who was away again, must be
treated with the medicines when he comes back, and that they
must begin to practice safer sex.
When Juanita returned to see Don Pedro the next week,
Step 7: See if there is some
improvement. If there are
no results, start over again.
she told him that she had taken all the pills he gave her but
her signs had not gone away. She also said her discharge
was getting worse and becoming yellow in color. So Don
Pedro asked Valeria, a health worker with more training,
for help.
Valeria agreed that Juanita had an STI. But because the
medicines had not helped,Valeria suspected that Juanita may
have a form of gonorrhea that is resistant to ciprofloxacin.
Valeria explained that many resistant forms of gonorrhea
had come from foreign soldiers at the military base on the
coast, who have been infecting the local women when they
had sex. Valeria recommended that Juanita go to the city
where she could get a more complete exam and be
tested for gonorrhea, syphilis (another STI), and cancer.
She could also get newer, more effective medicines, if
needed.
Risks and benefits
Juanita went home to think about what to do. She would
have to spend most of her family’s savings to pay for a trip
to the city and the medicine. Since she would be gone at
least two days (the trip is almost 6 hours each way by bus
and walking), and her husband was still away at the coast, she
would also have to find someone to watch her children while
she was gone.
Juanita was afraid that her husband would be angry if he
came back and found out that she had spent so much money
to see a doctor. But she was also scared that if she did not go
she would get worse. Valeria told her that without treatment
she could pass the infection on to a new baby if she became
pregnant. With time she would probably become unable to
have more children, would develop severe pain in her lower
belly, and would have problems with her urine system and
monthly bleeding. Her husband could also develop many
serious health problems.
Where Women Have No Doctor 2012