ABSTRACT
This chapter presents the sociocultural environment of everyday life particularly as it impacts on the health and nutrition of children. Each section: physical environment, ethnicity and migration, family and social structure, everyday practices of daily life, the local economy, and health and nutrition describes the sociocultural context of residents' everyday world. The chapter describes in greater detail the interiors and personalization of residents' homes. It examines the migration history and cultural backgrounds of residents. El Progreso is a colonia de reconstrucción situated about 4 kilometers from the main highway of Guatemala City. Housing type frequently has been related to nutritional status in Latin America, however in El Progreso, the differences are determined by the type of housing program rather than other health related variables. Residents in El Progreso define themselves as ladino and do not readily discuss their Maya backgrounds.
