Researchers Assess Environmental and Health Challenges in Guatemala’s Dry Corridor
A new study led by UTHealth Houston, EPIDriver, and CECLISA (Center for Advanced Health Clinical Studies in Guatemala) aims to evaluate the health status and environmental exposures of vulnerable populations in Guatemala’s Dry Corridor region. By identifying the factors that shape health in this climate-sensitive zone, the study aims to support the development and implementation of more effective public health strategies.
The Central American Dry Corridor, which stretches across parts of Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica, is severely affected by prolonged droughts, extreme heat, and increasingly erratic rainfall patterns. In Guatemala specifically, drought has resulted in widespread water scarcity and food insecurity, largely due to reduced agricultural productivity and crop failures. The vulnerability of the region underscores an urgent need for epidemiological research to guide locally relevant and effective public health interventions.
This cross-sectional study, titled “Health Status and Environmental Exposures of the General Population in Guatemala’s Dry Corridor,” is led by Principal Investigator Andrea Ramírez Varela, MD, MPH, PhD at UTHealth Houston in collaboration with EPIDriver director Diana Carolina Rivera Pinzón, MD, MSc, and CECLISA director Mario Melgar, MD. The study aims to characterize the health status and environmental exposures of the general population living in Guatemala’s Dry Corridor, assess the prevalence of various health conditions among the population, and identify the factors that influence their health outcomes.
Data will be collected in selected municipalities in the departments of high and low exposure to severe heat in the dry corridor, with a pilot test previously conducted in El Progreso, one of the regions most affected by drought. Using a combination of trained interviewers, environmental monitoring, and GIS data analysis, the research team will evaluate cardiovascular health indicators, household living conditions, access to clean water, air quality, immunization status, and mental health status. Community engagement strategies have been integrated to ensure participant understanding and culturally appropriate data collection.
A successful pilot was conducted in San Agustín, El Progreso in May 2025. The team visited 39 households across five localities, collecting data from more than 90 participants. This phase was critical for refining survey instruments, verifying the feasibility of clinical and environmental measurements, and adjusting communication protocols for informed consent.
The study is funded by EpiDriver, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing social and environmental epidemiology in Latin America, and is conducted in close partnership with CECLISA Guatemala, a community-focused research center. Fieldwork is supported by local health promoters, municipal leaders, and healthcare providers, all of whom have played an essential role in facilitating study implementation. Ethical approval has been granted by both the Guatemalan National Ethics Committee and UTHealth Houston.
The findings from this study will inform efforts to prioritize the health needs of populations in the Dry Corridor within national and global climate and health agendas. Results will be shared through community meetings with local health authorities, printed reports distributed to health centers, and peer-reviewed publications at the national and international levels. Data will also be used to strengthen local capacity for environmental health surveillance, generate high-quality evidence for public health decision-making, and elevate the visibility of climate-vulnerable populations within national and global health agendas.
Co-Investigators with Dr. Ramírez Varela include Mario Melgar MD, Diana Carolina Rivera Pinzón MD, MSc, Andrés Mauricio García Sierra MD, MPH, MPP, PhD, Luz Adriana Urbina Moreno MD, and Juliana Mejía Grueso BSc, MSc.