Social and Demographic Characteristics of Nicaraguan Health Volunteers

Abstract

Although the training and mobilization of volunteer health aides is widely promoted in Third World countries, little is known about those who volunteer. A survey of Nicaraguan volunteers in 1982 revealed findings which are similar to results found elsewhere. Women, young people, and students have tended to be those groups which volunteer most often. Less is known about the level of responsibility and organizational affiliation of volunteers. In the Nicaraguan case, it was found that although most volunteers are female, they usually do not represent a women's organization. A majority of the volunteers represent non-traditional organizations or no organization at all. Those volunteers with greater responsibility tend to be older, better educated, are more likely to be female, and more commonly represent an organization which came into existence after the country's 1979 revolution. Changes in the organization of health promotion campaigns in Nicaragua are likely to soon influence the recruitment and retention of volunteers.