What question did this study set out to answer?

This study aims to assess household-level vector-borne disease prevention practices and identify healthcare access barriers among Indigenous communities in Alta Verapaz.

February 28, 2026Cureus0 citationsOpen Access

Household-Level Vector-Borne Disease Prevention Practices and Healthcare Access Barriers in Rural Alta Verapaz, Guatemala: A Cross-Sectional Study

MMMitchell M Michalak

Key Points

This study aims to assess household-level vector-borne disease prevention practices and identify healthcare access barriers among Indigenous communities in Alta Verapaz.
Conducted a cross-sectional survey in July 2025 across four mobile outreach clinic sites.
Surveyed 111 adult representatives from Indigenous Maya households using a structured questionnaire.
Collected data on VBD prevention behaviors, healthcare access barriers, and recent febrile illness.
82% of households reported covering water containers as a preventive measure.
Mosquito net usage varied significantly across sites, from 22.2% to 54.3%.
57.7% of households reported not taking any preventive actions against VBDs.
Distance to healthcare was the main access barrier reported by 50.5% of households.

Abstract

Introduction Vector-borne diseases (VBDs) remain endemic in Guatemala, including in Indigenous communities where access to preventive and healthcare resources may be limited. This cross-sectional study aimed to estimate the prevalence of household-level VBD prevention practices, transmission knowledge, healthcare access barriers, and self-reported syndromic illness among Indigenous Maya households in Alta Verapaz, Guatemala. Methods A cross-sectional household survey was conducted over five days in July 2025 across four mobile outreach clinic sites in Alta Verapaz. One adult representative per household (N = 111) completed a structured questionnaire assessing VBD prevention behaviors, transmission knowledge, healthcare access barriers, housing characteristics, and recent household febrile illness. Descriptive analyses were performed using R statistical software (R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria). Results Preventive practices varied across clinic sites. A total of 91 (82.0%) households reported covering water containers, and mosquito net use ranged from eight (22.2%) to 19 (54.3%) households, depending on the clinic site. Additionally, 64 (57.7%) households reported taking no preventive action. Knowledge related to VBD transmission was generally low and varied across clinic sites. The most frequently reported barriers to healthcare access were distance to care for 56 (50.5%), lack of money for 41 (36.9%), and transportation barriers for 20 (18.0%) households. Recent household febrile illness with rash and joint pain was reported by 43 (38.7%) households; however, these findings were not laboratory confirmed. Conclusions This descriptive assessment identified variation in prevention practices and healthcare access barriers among Indigenous Maya households in Alta Verapaz. Rapid household surveys integrated into mobile outreach clinics may provide locally relevant information to support context-specific prevention planning.

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