BackgroundFew data exist on the health status of the immigrant population in French Guiana. The main objective of this article was to identify differences in its health status in relation to that of the native-born population.MethodsA representative, population-based, cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2009 among 1027 adults living in Cayenne and St-Laurent du Maroni. Health status was assessed in terms of self-perceived health, chronic diseases and functional limitations. The migration variables were immigration status, the duration of residence in French Guiana and the country of birth. Logistic regression models were conducted.ResultsImmigrants account for 40.5% and 57.8% of the adult population of Cayenne and St-Laurent du Maroni, respectively. Most of them (60.7% and 77.5%, respectively) had been living in French Guiana for more than 10 years. A large proportion were still undocumented or had a precarious legal status. The undocumented immigrants reported the worst health status (OR = 3.18 [1.21-7.84] for self-perceived health, OR = 2.79 [1.22-6.34] for a chronic disease, and OR = 2.17 [1.00-4.70] for a functional limitation). These differences are partially explained by socioeconomic status and psychosocial factors. The country of birth and the duration of residence also had an impact on health indicators.ConclusionData on immigrant health are scarce in France, and more generally, immigrant health problems have been largely ignored in public health policies. Immigrant health status is of crucial interest to health policy planners, and it is especially relevant in French Guiana, considering the size of the foreign-born population in that region.

In this overseas French island, the migrant population is numerous and resident for a long time. Their main motivations to immigrate are economic and family-related. They report hurdles to healthcare related with their precarious living conditions, including their illegal residence status.

Few data exist on the health status and heathcare utilization of the undocumented migrants in France. Data are particularly scarce in French overseas territories where this population is numerous. We aimed to describe the characteristics of undocumented patients who use the emergency department of Saint-Laurent du Maroni Hospital(SLMH) in French Guiana, and to identify factors associated with their subsequent hospitalization. In a random sample of 177 patients, we used logistic regression models to test the mediational role of health-care system utilization and medical characteristics at admission in the association between residency status and hospitalization.More than a quarter of patients (27.7 %) were undocumented migrants, who were subsequently hospitalized more often than the others [OR 3.11, 95 % CI (1.32–7.34)]. More-severe symptoms at admission, a poorer access to health insurance, a greater distance between their home and SLMH, and poorer French language skills partially explained this higher hospitalization rate. Despite the fact that France has instituted a specific insurance program for the undocumented, an increasing number of barriers to accessing health care is being reported for these people. Our results suggest that these obstacles have some impacts in the utilization of hospital care.

Background: In French Guiana, a French overseas territory in South America, 6 to 10 thousands undocumented persons work illegally in gold mining sites in the Amazonian forest. Precarious life conditions lead to poor health but few data exist on the health status of illegal gold miners in French Guiana. The objective of this article was to describe the sociodemographic and health status of this vulnerable population. Method: A prospective cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2015 on gold mine supply sites at the border between French Guiana and Suriname. Health status was assessed through medical examination, past medical history, haemoglobin concentration, and HIV and malaria testing. A questionnaire was used to collect data about the migration itinerary and life conditions on mining sites. Results: Among the 421 adults included in the study, 93.8% (395/421) were Brazilian, mainly from Maranhão (55.7%, 220/395), the poorest Brazilian state. The sex ratio was 2.4. Overall, 48% of persons never went to school or beyond the primary level. The median time spent in gold mining was quite long (10 years), with a high turnover. One third of the surveyed population (37.1%, 156/421) had high blood pressure, and only two had a medical follow-up. Most persons had experienced malaria (89.3%, 376/421). They declared frequent arboviroses and digestive disorders. Active leishmaniasis was observed in 8.3% of gold miners. Among women, 28.5% were anemic. Concerning HIV, 36.6% (154/ 421) of persons, mainly men, never got tested before and 6 were tested positive, which represented an HIV prevalence of 1.43% (95%CI =0.29-2.5). Conclusion: These findings support the hypothesis that mining in remote areas is linked to several specific illnesses. Theoretically, gold miners would be presumed to start their economical migration to French Guiana as a healthy group. However, their strenuous working and living conditions there lead to poor health caused by infectious and non infectious diseases. This description of their health status is precious for health policy planners in French Guiana given the importance of controlling communicable disease, and the severity and range of specific illnesses acquired by this neglected population. Trial registration: Clinical trial registration PRS N°NCT02903706. Retrospectively registered 09/13/2016.

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Medical doctors are required to provide information to their patients regarding their medical procedures according to the law on patient information enacted on March 4, 2002. The objective of this study was to assess patients' awareness and satisfaction with respect to their perception of information obtained prior to or during a medical examination. A self-descriptive patient survey was conducted at the Groupe Hospitalier of Pitié-Salpêtrière in 2005 for this purpose. Data were collected at three distinct moments using a standard questionnaire. 147 patients were interviewed (101 had received and MRI and 46 a bronchoscopy). Twenty percent of the participants reported that they had not been provided with any specific medical or paramedical information before the examination and 4% had received no information at all. Health professionals must ensure that information is given to their patients in a manner that takes into account their expectations and responds to their concerns before a medical procedure is performed in order to improve its delivery and its intrinsic quality.

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