Connaissances, attitudes et pratiques vis-à-vis du VIH et des IST parmi les travailleuses du sexe en Guyane et à Oiapoque, Brésil

The HIV epidemic in French Guiana is often described as generalized. However, some vulnerable groups appear particularly affected. Among these groups, female sex workers hold a special place because of the frequency of transactional relationships in the region. These sexual‐economic exchanges go beyond the borders since many customers from French Guiana solicit female sex workers in Oiapoque, the Brazilian border town. Despite the potential importance of sex work in the HIV epidemic, there is scarce data on the subject in the area.The main objective of this study was to address this knowledge gap and to describe the knowledge, attitudes and practices among female sex workers in French Guiana and Oiapoque in order to optimize and subsequently evaluate prevention.The results of the survey conducted in French Guiana and Oiapoque in 2010 and 2011 highlighted a number of events promoting the spread of the epidemic among female sex workers, but also promoting the spread of the epidemic in the general population. Thus, condom use was not always adequate. Although it was consistent with the customers, it was much less with intimate partners, in a common multiple sexual partnerships context. The HIV screening rate was particularly low in Oiapoque as well. Beyond the individual aspect, the structural framework clearly impacted the vulnerability of female sex workers. Thus, the non‐availability of treatment in Oiapoque, the precariousness in which people live and the legislative framework of the two countries are major barriers to female sex workers’ support.Different levels of understanding are necessary to disentangle the complexity of behaviors facing the risk of transmission of HIV among female sex workers. Prevention must be considered at each level, not only at the individual level, to be effective. Furthermore, prevention must be considered more generally to provide an efficient response to the HIV epidemic by combining behavioral, biomedical and structural prevention elements.L’épidémie de VIH en Guyane est souvent présentée comme généralisée. Cependant, certains groupes semblent plus particulièrement touchés. Parmi ces groupes vulnérables, les travailleuses du sexe tiennent une place particulière compte tenu de la fréquence des rapports transactionnels dans la région. Ces échanges économico‐sexuels dépassent les frontières puisque de nombreux clients venant de Guyane rencontrent des travailleuses du sexe à Oiapoque, ville brésilienne frontalière. Malgré l'importance potentielle de la prostitution dans la dynamique de l'épidémie VIH, peu de données existent sur le sujet dans la région.L’objectif principal de cette étude était de répondre à ce manque de données et de décrire les connaissances, attitudes et pratiques des travailleuses du sexe en Guyane et à Oiapoque afin de pouvoir ajuster au mieux les actions de prévention.Les résultats des enquêtes menées en Guyane et à Oiapoque en 2010 et 2011 ont mis en lumière un certain nombre de faits favorisant la progression de l’épidémie au sein des travailleuses du sexe, mais également favorisant la diffusion de l’épidémie en population générale. Ainsi l’utilisation du préservatif n’était pas toujours adéquate et bien qu’elle était constante avec les clients, elle l’était beaucoup moins avec les partenaires intimes, dans un contexte de multipartenariat fréquent. Le taux de dépistage à Oiapoque était particulièrement faible également. Au‐delà de l’aspect individuel, le cadre structurel impactait clairement la vulnérabilité des travailleuses du sexe. Ainsi, la non‐disponibilité des traitements à Oiapoque, la précarité dans laquelle se trouvent les personnes et le cadre législatif des deux pays représentent des obstacles majeurs à la prise en charge destravailleuses du sexe.Différents niveaux de lecture sont nécessaires pour essayer de percevoir la complexité des comportements face au risque de transmission du VIH parmi les travailleuses du sexe. C’est à chacun de ces niveaux qu’il faut envisager la prévention, et non plus au seul niveau individuel, pour qu’elle puisse être efficace. Cette prévention doit, elle‐même, être envisagée plus globalement pour apporter une réponse efficace à l’épidémie de VIH en combinant des éléments de prévention comportementale, biomédicale et structurelle

Knowledge, attitudes and practices towards STIs and HIV among female sex workers in French Guiana and Oiapoque (Brazil).

L’épidémie de VIH en Guyane est souvent présentée comme généralisée. Cependant, certains groupes semblent plus particulièrement touchés. Parmi ces groupes vulnérables, les travailleuses du sexe tiennent une place particulière compte tenu de la fréquence des rapports transactionnels dans la région. Ces échanges économico‐sexuels dépassent les frontières puisque de nombreux clients venant de Guyane rencontrent des travailleuses du sexe à Oiapoque, ville brésilienne frontalière. Malgré l'importance potentielle de la prostitution dans la dynamique de l'épidémie VIH, peu de données existent sur le sujet dans la région.L’objectif principal de cette étude était de répondre à ce manque de données et de décrire les connaissances, attitudes et pratiques des travailleuses du sexe en Guyane et à Oiapoque afin de pouvoir ajuster au mieux les actions de prévention.Les résultats des enquêtes menées en Guyane et à Oiapoque en 2010 et 2011 ont mis en lumière un certain nombre de faits favorisant la progression de l’épidémie au sein des travailleuses du sexe, mais également favorisant la diffusion de l’épidémie en population générale. Ainsi l’utilisation du préservatif n’était pas toujours adéquate et bien qu’elle était constante avec les clients, elle l’était beaucoup moins avec les partenaires intimes, dans un contexte de multipartenariat fréquent. Le taux de dépistage à Oiapoque était particulièrement faible également. Au‐delà de l’aspect individuel, le cadre structurel impactait clairement la vulnérabilité des travailleuses du sexe. Ainsi, la non‐disponibilité des traitements à Oiapoque, la précarité dans laquelle se trouvent les personnes et le cadre législatif des deux pays représentent des obstacles majeurs à la prise en charge destravailleuses du sexe.Différents niveaux de lecture sont nécessaires pour essayer de percevoir la complexité des comportements face au risque de transmission du VIH parmi les travailleuses du sexe. C’est à chacun de ces niveaux qu’il faut envisager la prévention, et non plus au seul niveau individuel, pour qu’elle puisse être efficace. Cette prévention doit, elle‐même, être envisagée plus globalement pour apporter une réponse efficace à l’épidémie de VIH en combinant des éléments de prévention comportementale, biomédicale et structurelle.The HIV epidemic in French Guiana is often described as generalized. However, some vulnerable groups appear particularly affected. Among these groups, female sex workers hold a special place because of the frequency of transactional relationships in the region. These sexual‐economic exchanges go beyond the borders since many customers from French Guiana solicit female sex workers in Oiapoque, the Brazilian border town. Despite the potential importance of sex work in the HIV epidemic, there is scarce data on the subject in the area.The main objective of this study was to address this knowledge gap and to describe the knowledge, attitudes and practices among female sex workers in French Guiana and Oiapoque in order to optimize and subsequently evaluate prevention.The results of the survey conducted in French Guiana and Oiapoque in 2010 and 2011 highlighted a number of events promoting the spread of the epidemic among female sex workers, but also promoting the spread of the epidemic in the general population. Thus, condom use was not always adequate. Although it was consistent with the customers, it was much less with intimate partners, in a common multiple sexual partnerships context. The HIV screening rate was particularly low in Oiapoque as well. Beyond the individual aspect, the structural framework clearly impacted the vulnerability of female sex workers. Thus, the non‐availability of treatment in Oiapoque, the precariousness in which people live and the legislative framework of the two countries are major barriers to female sex workers’ support.Different levels of understanding are necessary to disentangle the complexity of behaviors facing the risk of transmission of HIV among female sex workers. Prevention must be considered at each level, not only at the individual level, to be effective. Furthermore, prevention must be considered more generally to provide an efficient response to the HIV epidemic by combining behavioral, biomedical and structural prevention elements

Air Drep—A Retrospective Study Evaluating the Influence of Weather Conditions and Viral Epidemics on Vaso-Occlusive Crises in Patients with Sickle Cell Disease Living in French Guiana

(1) Objectives: French Guiana is the French territory most affected by sickle cell disease (SCD). This study investigates the associations between different environmental factors relative to climate, infectious outbreaks, and emergency visits or weekly hospital admissions for vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC). The identification of risk factors would lead to better patient care and patient management, and more targeted prevention and therapeutic education for patients with SCD in French Guiana. (2) Methods: This study was performed using data collected from the medicalized information system and emergency medical records of Cayenne General Hospital, between 1 January 2010 and 31 December 2016. ARIMA models were used to investigate the potential impact of weather conditions and flu epidemics on VOC occurrence. (3) Results: During the study period, 1739 emergency visits were recorded among 384 patients, of which 856 (49.2%) resulted in hospitalization, 811 (46.6%) resulted in hospital discharge, and 72 (4.2%) in another orientation. Decreased temperature and decreased humidity were both independent factors associated with an increase of VOC cases (p = 0.0128 and p = 0.0004, respectively). When studying severe VOC (leading to hospitalization, with or without prior emergency visit), 2104 hospital admissions were recorded for 326 patients. The only factor associated with severe VOC, in the multivariate analysis, was flu epidemics (p = 0.0148). (4) Conclusions: This study shows a link between climate, flu epidemics, and VOC in French Guiana. Patient’s awareness of risks related to climate and flu epidemics should be encouraged, as home prevention measures can help avoid painful crises. Moreover, physicians should encourage patients to get immunized for influenza every year

Factors associated with sexual risk taking behavior by precarious urban migrants in French Guiana

International audienceBackground: French Guiana is highly affected by HIV. The migrant population is particularly susceptible. The objective of this study was to evaluate the level of risk of HIV transmission and its perception among migrants in French Guiana and to identify predictive factors. Methods: An HIV/AIDS Knowledge, Attitudes, Behaviors and Practices study was conducted in 2012 among migrants living in precarious neighborhoods of French Guiana. Results: Of the 1039 participants surveyed, 893 were analyzed, of which 35.6% had risky sex during the past 12 months. Sexual risk taking was higher among the migrant population than in the general population. The predictors of sexual risk taking behavior were: younger age groups, males, having a job, not living with a spouse, having first had sex before age 16, using alcohol or drugs before sex, and having engaged in commercial sex recently. The factors associated with not being aware of one's risk were: being a woman, being from Guyana or Suriname, non-systematic use of condoms with a regular partner, and never or not recently having been tested for HIV. Conclusions: The results suggest there is still a need for information on HIV risks in a highly vulnerable population

Country of infection among HIV-infected patients born abroad living in French Guiana.

Over 75% of patients in the HIV cohort in French Guiana are of foreign origin. Our objective was to estimate what proportion of the migrant population of HIV-infected patients in Cayenne had been infected in French Guiana.We included patients of known foreign origin who were followed in Cayenne, for whom the year of arrival in French Guiana was known and the initial CD4 count at the time of diagnosis was available. The time between seroconversion and time at diagnosis was estimated using the formula [square root (CD4 at seroconversion)-square root(CD4 at HIV diagnosis)] / slope of CD4 decline.CD4 counts at the time of infection and the slope were computed in an age and ethnicity-dependent variable.The median estimated time between infection and diagnosis was 4.5 years (IQR = 0.2-9.2). Overall, using a median estimate of CD4 count at the time of infection, it was estimated that 53.2% (95% CI = 48.3-58%) of HIV infected foreign patients had acquired HIV after having arrived in French Guiana. Patients having arrived in French Guiana before and during the 1990s and those receiving their HIV diagnosis before 2010 were more likely to have been infected in French Guiana.Contrary to widespread belief suggesting that most migrants are already HIV-infected when they arrive in French Guiana, a large proportion of foreign HIV patients seem acquire the virus in French Guiana.There is still much to do in terms of primary prevention and testing among migrants

Penile implants and other high risk practices in French Guiana’s correctional facility: A cause for concern

International audienceBACKGROUND: Prisoners in French Guiana, a French territory located in South America, have a HIV and hepatitis B prevalence of 4%. Body modifications such as penile implants, tattoos, and body piercings are common among detainees, increasing the risk of blood-borne virus transmission.METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional randomised survey in which the primary objective was to estimate the prevalence of high risk 'bloody practices' (penile implants, tattoos, body piercings) in French Guiana's only correctional facility. The secondary objective was to describe the risk factors for penile implants, the procedures and motivations for insertion, the reported complications, their risk factors and adverse impact on condom use.RESULTS: Of the 221 male inmates interviewed, 19% had tattoos or body piercings while incarcerated, and 68% had penile implants, of which, 85% had been inserted inside the correctional facility. Addictive behaviors such as cannabis use and alcohol addiction (positive AUDIT-C score), early age at first sexual intercourse, and the number of incarcerations correlated positively with having inserted one or more penile implants while incarcerated. In contrast, having reported previous psychiatric hospitalizations and having a high knowledge score for HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) were negatively correlated with the insertion of penile implants while incarcerated. Penile implants were inserted in poor hygienic conditions, usually using the sharp lid of a canned food container, with 18% of early complications, mostly haemorrhage and edema. Condom use was negatively impacted for 52% of men with penile implants.CONCLUSIONS: Our results highlight the need for prevention interventions which should aim at increasing knowledge levels and at implementing comprehensive risk-reduction measures

Knowledge of free voluntary HIV testing centres and willingness to do a test among migrants in Cayenne, French Guiana

International audienceIn Cayenne, French Guiana, 80% of HIV+ patients followed at the hospital are migrants. Behavioral information is crucial for optimizing HIV testing for this vulnerable group. Predictors of ignorance of the existence of free VCT centre and willingness to get tested were investigated in 2006 among 398 migrants from Haiti, Guyana, Suriname, and Brazil using a structured questionnaire. Only 27 % of migrants knew simultaneously about the existence of free VCT, its localisation and its operating hours. Factors associated with ignorance of the existence of free VCT centre were birthplace in Haiti, being in French Guiana for less than 3 years, not thinking one's birth country as strongly affected by HIV, and not thinking to be personally at risk for HIV. Factors independently associated with willingness to get tested were thinking to be at risk for HIV, birthplace in Brazil and Haiti, having a high integration level and fear of suffering if HIV test was positive. In order to improve testing among migrants, the accessibility of testing facilities and the knowledge of their whereabouts and operating hours must be improved to promote the desired behaviour among the majority of migrants which is often willing to do the test

Sexual risk behaviors and predictors of inconsistent condom use among crack cocaine users in the French overseas territories in the Americas

International audienceThe French overseas territories in the Americas are the French territories most affected by HIV. Crack cocaine users are particularly impacted. The objective of this study was to describe sexual risk behaviors and inconsistent condom use among crack cocaine users. A total of 640 crack cocaine users were interviewed. The sampling method was non-probabilistic. An anonymous standardized questionnaire of 110 questions was used. Over a third of persons did not use condoms systematically with casual sex partners (36.2%) or commercial sex partners (32.3%), and 64% did not use condoms systematically with regular sex partners. In a context of multiple sexual partnerships, frequent forced sex, and insufficient HIV testing, the lack of systematic condom use may favor the spread of HIV. Different predictive factors of inconsistent condom use were identified, depending on the type of partner, with a log binomial regression. However, among the predictor variables identified, two predictive factors frequently occur among the different type of sex partners: high perceived risk of HIV and self-perceived capacity to persuade a sex partner to use condom. These results pointed towards interventions improving access to rights and raising perceived self-efficacy

Comportements sexuels à risque et facteurs prédictifs de non utilisation du préservatif parmi les usagers de crack dans les Départements Français d'Amérique

International audienceRésumé :Introduction : Les départements Français d’Amérique sont à la fois parmi les territoiresfrançais les plus affectés par le VIH et parmi les territoires français les plus impactés par laconsommation de crack. L’épidémie de VIH en Guyane est une épidémie concentrée quitouche plus spécifiquement certains groupes vulnérables. Parmi ces groupes, les usagers decrack sont particulièrement touchés.Matériel et Méthodes : Une étude a été réalisée simultanément dans les trois départements en2012 dans le but de décrire les connaissances, les attitudes et les pratiques vis-à-vis du VIH etdes IST chez les usagers de crack. Au total 640 personnes ont été interrogées. La méthoded’échantillonnage utilisée était non probabiliste et combinait un échantillonnage deconvenance dans les associations recevant ce public (75% de l’échantillon), et unéchantillonnage en boule de neige en dehors afin d’atteindre les personnes ne fréquentant pasles structures (25% de l’échantillon).Résultats : Un tiers des personnes n’utilisait pas systématiquement le préservatif avec lespartenaires occasionnels (36,2%) ou avec les partenaires commerciaux (32,3%), et 64%n’utilisaient pas le préservatif à chaque fois avec les partenaires réguliers. Différents facteursprédictifs de la non utilisation du préservatif ont été identifiés selon le type de partenaire àl’aide d’un modèle log-binomial. Parmi les différents facteurs repérés, deux étaient communsà chaque type de partenaire : la perception élevée de son risque face au VIH et le fait de nepas se sentir à l’aise pour persuader un partenaire à utiliser le préservatif.Discussion : Dans un contexte de multipartenariat, de violences sexuelles fréquentes et dedépistage insuffisant du VIH, la non utilisation systématique du préservatif peut avoir unimpact non négligeable dans la diffusion de l’épidémie. Bien que la non utilisation dupréservatif soit sensiblement inférieure à ce que l’on retrouve dans la littérature, cesproportions traduisent un réel problème.La capacité à persuader un partenaire sexuel à utiliser un préservatif était négativementcorrélée avec la non utilisation du préservatif quel que soit le type de partenaire. Ainsi, ilsemble que lorsque les personnes se sentaient capables de négocier l'utilisation du préservatif,elles l’utilisaient de manière plus systématique. La capacité personnelle perçue est souventconsidérée comme un levier important pour adapter les comportements de santé. Or, elle peutêtre affectée dans des situations de stigmatisation, d’addiction ou de relation violente. Cesrésultats soulignent l’importance d’interventions spécifiques de prévention parmi les usagersde crack et notamment des interventions visant à améliorer le sentiment d’efficacitépersonnelle (perceived self-efficacy) et d’estime de soi