Risk factors for late HIV diagnosis in French Guiana

Abstract

Risk factors for delayed HIV diagnosis in French Guiana were studied in 1952 patients between 1992 and 2003. At the time of diagnosis, 30% of patients had less than 200 CD4 lymphocytes/mm3; age, male sex, and foreign nationality were independently associated with a low CD4 cell count. The availability of highly active antiretroviral therapy was not associated with an earlier HIV diagnosis. Promoting HIV information and testing should be done in several languages to reach minorities.

Factors correlated with disclosure of HIV infection in the French Antilles and French Guiana: results from the ANRS-EN13-VESPA-DFA Study

“…These phenomena might prevent persons living with HIV from revealing their infection and persons at risk from seeking voluntary counselling and testing [3,7]. Late diagnosis has also been observed in these French regions [23,24] where testing and treatment are available. Both phenomena, late diagnosis and difficulties in disclosure, may be viewed as consequences of the poor tolerance towards people with HIV in these regions, as shown in the 2004 general population survey.…”

Tuberculosis and Histoplasmosis among Human Immunodeficiency Virus–Infected Patients: A Comparative Study

“…1 Histoplasmosis and tuberculosis are among the top four AIDS-defining illnesses. Disseminated histoplasmosis was the first AIDS-related cause of death in 2005.…”

Risk factors for death among patients in French Guiana: 1996–2005

“…French Guiana is the French overseas department where the HIV epidemic is of most concern. There are 38 new AIDS cases per 100 000 inhabitants per year and 41% of pregnant women are HIV positive [1].…”