Guatemala: migrant health guide
Advice and guidance on the health needs of migrant patients from Guatemala for healthcare practitioners.
Main messages
If the patient is new to the UK:
- explain to them how the NHS works
- discuss how this compares to the healthcare system they’ve been used to
Ensure that all patients are up-to-date with the UK immunisation schedule.
Ascertain any risk factors for hepatitis B infection that may indicate the need for screening, because Guatemala has a low prevalence.
Ask opportunistically about any travel plans the patient may have to visit friends and relatives in their country of origin, and see National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC), or the Health Protection Scotland websites (TRAVAX and fitfortravel), for travel advice.
Be advised that there is a risk of typhoid infection in Guatemala.
Be alert for possible cases of Chagas disease, and refer as appropriate, because there is a risk of chronic Chagas disease in migrants from Guatemala.
Consider nutritional and metabolic concerns.
Infectious diseases
Immunisation
Ensure that all patients, especially children, are up-to-date with the UK immunisation schedule.
Tuberculosis (TB)
There is a low incidence of TB in Guatemala (<40 cases per 100,000), so:
- routine screening is not required
- consider testing for TB (including children) if the patient shows signs and symptoms
- be aware that TB is a notifiable disease
Sexually transmitted infections and HIV
Take a sexual history, and:
- screen for STIs and HIV according to risk as specified in the UK national standards and guidelines
- test all sexually active patients under the age of 25 for chlamydia
Guatemala has a low rate of HIV (≤1%), so:
- offer and recommend an HIV test if the patient:
- falls into a high risk group
- is newly registering in a high prevalence area
- be advised that national guidelines do not recommend routine consideration of HIV testing of infants and children who have recently arrived in the UK
Hepatitis B
Guatemala has a low prevalence of hepatitis B, so:
- offer screening for hepatitis B to all pregnant women during each pregnancy
- immunise appropriately babies born to mothers who are hepatitis B positive and follow-up accordingly
- be aware that the UK has a universal infant immunisation programme for hepatitis B and a selective immunisation programme for higher risk groups
Hepatitis C
Guatemala has a higher prevalence of hepatitis C than the UK, so consider screening for hepatitis C.
Travel plans and advice
Ask opportunistically about any travel plans the patient may have to visit friends and relatives in their country of origin, and see National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC), or the Health Protection Scotland websites (TRAVAX and fitfortravel), for travel advice.
Malaria
There is a low risk of malaria in some areas of Guatemala, due to P. falciparum and P. vivax, so:
- test any unwell patient who has travelled to-and-from affected areas of Guatemala in the last year
- remember that malaria can be rapidly fatal
Typhoid
There is a risk of typhoid infection in Guatemala, so:
- ensure that travellers to Guatemala are offered typhoid immunisation and advice on prevention of enteric fever
- remember enteric fever in the differential diagnosis of illness in patients with a recent history of travel to-or-from Guatemala
Helminths
There is a risk of helminth infections in Guatemala, including soil transmitted helminthiasis.
Chagas disease
There is a risk of chronic Chagas disease in migrants from Guatemala, so:
- be alert for possible cases
- refer as appropriate
Women’s health
Reproductive health indicators
| Reproductive health indicator | UK | Guatemala |
|---|---|---|
| Children per woman¹ | 2 | 4 |
| Use of contraception² | 82% | 43.3% |
| Breast examination or mammography³ | 75% | 14% |
| Cervical cancer screening⁴ | 70% | 40% |
¹lifetime average ²by woman of reproductive age or partner ³women aged 50 to 69 years ⁴women aged 20 to 69 years
Nutritional and metabolic concerns
Anaemia
There is a moderate risk of anaemia in adults (estimated prevalence in non-pregnant women is 20 to 40%), and a high risk in pre-school children (estimated prevalence is >40%), in Guatemala, so:
- be alert to the possibility of anaemia in recently arrived migrants, particularly women and pre-school children
- test as clinically indicated
Vitamin D
Consider the possibility of vitamin D deficiency in people who may be at risk due to:
- covering their body for cultural or religious reasons (lack of sunlight)
- skin colour
- diet (vegan or vegetarian)
Vitamin A
There is a risk of vitamin A deficiency in Guatemala.
Iodine
People from Guatemala may be at risk of iodine induced hyperthyroidism due to excessive intake.
Country profile
Health indicators and health care
WHO Global Health Observatory has a summary of health indicators and health care in Guatemala.
Culture, politics and history
BBC News and The World Factbook provide background information on the culture, politics and history of Guatemala.
Languages
| Language | Population (%) |
|---|---|
| Spanish | 60 |
| Amerindian languages¹ | 40 |
¹there are 23 officially recognized Amerindian languages, including:
- Quiche
- Cakchiquel
- Kekchi
- Mam
- Garifuna
- Xinca
Source: The World Factbook.
Religions
The main religions in Guatemala are:
- Roman Catholic
- Protestant
- indigenous Mayan beliefs
Source: The World Factbook.
Migration to the UK
There were over 800 people from Guatemala living in England and Wales at the time of the 2011 Census.
Source: Office for National Statistics © Crown Copyright 2014.
Updates to this page
Published 31 July 2014Last updated 30 May 2019 + show all updates
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Updated country TB guidance based on the latest World Health Organization (WHO) data.
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Updated advice on testing for malaria and anaemia, based on current prevalence in Guatemala.
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First published.