Sexual Health Determinants During the Life Course and Migration of Haitian-Origin People in French Guiana: Protocol for the Parcours d’Haïti Biographical and Transdisciplinary Study
BackgroundFrench Guiana, an overseas territory located in the Guiana Shield in South America, faces unique social and demographic challenges, particularly in relation to migration. Haitians represent 1 of the 3 largest foreign communities in the region and face specific barri...
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JMIR Publications
2025-06-01
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| Series: | JMIR Research Protocols |
| Online Access: | https://www.researchprotocols.org/2025/1/e63586 |
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| author | Leslie Alcouffe Marc-Alexandre Tareau Gabriel Brun Rambaud Aude Lucarelli Mathilde Boutrou Camille Thorey Greta Cantalupi Karl Kpossou Florence Huber Sébastien Rabier Dévi Rita Rochemont Théo Blaise Estelle Thomas Guerline Jean Ruth Pierre Louis Annette Zephirin Célia Basurko Félix Djossou Hawa Cissé William Faurous Quentin Drouaud Mayka Mergeay-Fabre Antoine Adenis Mathieu Nacher Nicolas Vignier |
| author_facet | Leslie Alcouffe Marc-Alexandre Tareau Gabriel Brun Rambaud Aude Lucarelli Mathilde Boutrou Camille Thorey Greta Cantalupi Karl Kpossou Florence Huber Sébastien Rabier Dévi Rita Rochemont Théo Blaise Estelle Thomas Guerline Jean Ruth Pierre Louis Annette Zephirin Célia Basurko Félix Djossou Hawa Cissé William Faurous Quentin Drouaud Mayka Mergeay-Fabre Antoine Adenis Mathieu Nacher Nicolas Vignier |
| author_sort | Leslie Alcouffe |
| collection | DOAJ |
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BackgroundFrench Guiana, an overseas territory located in the Guiana Shield in South America, faces unique social and demographic challenges, particularly in relation to migration. Haitians represent 1 of the 3 largest foreign communities in the region and face specific barriers to health care access and prevention. They are also a population exposed to HIV infection.
ObjectiveThis Parcours d’Haïti study aims to update knowledge on the health of the Haitian population residing in French Guiana. From a quantitative standpoint, the primary objective of this study was to assess the frequency of sexual behaviors that expose Haitian individuals to HIV risk after arriving in French Guiana and explore the association of this risk with their living conditions. This study adopts a transdisciplinary approach to understand the broader determinants of health and the processes underlying HIV transmission.
MethodsThis mixed methods study involves a quantitative epidemiological and biographical analysis of Haitian individuals aged 18 to 60 years who have lived in French Guiana for more than 3 months. The biographical component uses a detailed grid that tracks key life events since birth. The qualitative component includes 3 substudies based on semistructured interviews and focus groups with Haitian people and health care professionals. These aim to deepen understanding of health care access, use of traditional and biomedical care, and mental health among Haitians. A phylogenetic component describes the distribution of clades of the Pol gene in the viruses of people living with HIV. The study materials were cocreated with local stakeholders. Recruitment of this partially hidden population used an innovative method involving all local actors and targeting key locations frequented by the Haitian community. Data collection and recruitment were carried out by Haitian Creole–speaking peer investigators (community health mediators).
ResultsOver 20 months between 2021 and 2023, the Parcours d’Haïti study was implemented in French Guiana. Anticipated results suggest that the main reasons for migration include insecurity and fleeing violence. Upon arrival, Haitian people likely experience significant economic hardship and social isolation. Mental health deterioration is expected, with high rates of posttraumatic stress disorder. People living with HIV are expected to face heightened vulnerability compared to HIV-negative individuals even though they already struggle with precarious living conditions. The qualitative findings regarding health care use indicate that Haitian people encounter numerous barriers to accessing health care, such as administrative complexity, language, and financial and mobility issues. The anthropological results are expected to emphasize the magical-religious origins of HIV and the use of plants and traditional medicine for its treatment. Phylogenetic results are anticipated to show a high prevalence of Caribbean B HIV subtypes.
ConclusionsThe Parcours d’Haïti study aims to provide valuable insights into the health determinants and HIV-related risks in the Haitian population in French Guiana. These findings should help refine health care policies and practices to better meet the specific needs of this population.
Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05174234; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05174234
International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)DERR1-10.2196/63586 |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-16fd8bcd9cde4809ba931cfd74461c06 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1929-0748 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | JMIR Publications |
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| series | JMIR Research Protocols |
| spelling | doaj-art-16fd8bcd9cde4809ba931cfd74461c062025-08-20T03:44:51ZengJMIR PublicationsJMIR Research Protocols1929-07482025-06-0114e6358610.2196/63586Sexual Health Determinants During the Life Course and Migration of Haitian-Origin People in French Guiana: Protocol for the Parcours d’Haïti Biographical and Transdisciplinary StudyLeslie Alcouffehttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-2006-6851Marc-Alexandre Tareauhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-1357-4287Gabriel Brun Rambaudhttps://orcid.org/0009-0007-0081-9867Aude Lucarellihttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-2537-7694Mathilde Boutrouhttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-1465-8981Camille Thoreyhttps://orcid.org/0009-0003-9598-4726Greta Cantalupihttps://orcid.org/0009-0003-8739-5198Karl Kpossouhttps://orcid.org/0009-0000-4657-3937Florence Huberhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-4340-0106Sébastien Rabierhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-9597-3283Dévi Rita Rochemonthttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-4760-9986Théo Blaisehttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-1369-0066Estelle Thomashttps://orcid.org/0009-0004-8794-3067Guerline Jeanhttps://orcid.org/0009-0000-2802-2736Ruth Pierre Louishttps://orcid.org/0009-0006-2894-3942Annette Zephirinhttps://orcid.org/0009-0000-1015-1716Célia Basurkohttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-6326-4252Félix Djossouhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-6761-0511Hawa Cisséhttps://orcid.org/0009-0009-4541-2707William Fauroushttps://orcid.org/0009-0004-0558-1411Quentin Drouaudhttps://orcid.org/0009-0006-6998-7802Mayka Mergeay-Fabrehttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-7060-3013Antoine Adenishttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-4000-4981Mathieu Nacherhttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-9397-3204Nicolas Vignierhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-9410-9327 BackgroundFrench Guiana, an overseas territory located in the Guiana Shield in South America, faces unique social and demographic challenges, particularly in relation to migration. Haitians represent 1 of the 3 largest foreign communities in the region and face specific barriers to health care access and prevention. They are also a population exposed to HIV infection. ObjectiveThis Parcours d’Haïti study aims to update knowledge on the health of the Haitian population residing in French Guiana. From a quantitative standpoint, the primary objective of this study was to assess the frequency of sexual behaviors that expose Haitian individuals to HIV risk after arriving in French Guiana and explore the association of this risk with their living conditions. This study adopts a transdisciplinary approach to understand the broader determinants of health and the processes underlying HIV transmission. MethodsThis mixed methods study involves a quantitative epidemiological and biographical analysis of Haitian individuals aged 18 to 60 years who have lived in French Guiana for more than 3 months. The biographical component uses a detailed grid that tracks key life events since birth. The qualitative component includes 3 substudies based on semistructured interviews and focus groups with Haitian people and health care professionals. These aim to deepen understanding of health care access, use of traditional and biomedical care, and mental health among Haitians. A phylogenetic component describes the distribution of clades of the Pol gene in the viruses of people living with HIV. The study materials were cocreated with local stakeholders. Recruitment of this partially hidden population used an innovative method involving all local actors and targeting key locations frequented by the Haitian community. Data collection and recruitment were carried out by Haitian Creole–speaking peer investigators (community health mediators). ResultsOver 20 months between 2021 and 2023, the Parcours d’Haïti study was implemented in French Guiana. Anticipated results suggest that the main reasons for migration include insecurity and fleeing violence. Upon arrival, Haitian people likely experience significant economic hardship and social isolation. Mental health deterioration is expected, with high rates of posttraumatic stress disorder. People living with HIV are expected to face heightened vulnerability compared to HIV-negative individuals even though they already struggle with precarious living conditions. The qualitative findings regarding health care use indicate that Haitian people encounter numerous barriers to accessing health care, such as administrative complexity, language, and financial and mobility issues. The anthropological results are expected to emphasize the magical-religious origins of HIV and the use of plants and traditional medicine for its treatment. Phylogenetic results are anticipated to show a high prevalence of Caribbean B HIV subtypes. ConclusionsThe Parcours d’Haïti study aims to provide valuable insights into the health determinants and HIV-related risks in the Haitian population in French Guiana. These findings should help refine health care policies and practices to better meet the specific needs of this population. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05174234; https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05174234 International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)DERR1-10.2196/63586https://www.researchprotocols.org/2025/1/e63586 |
| spellingShingle | Leslie Alcouffe Marc-Alexandre Tareau Gabriel Brun Rambaud Aude Lucarelli Mathilde Boutrou Camille Thorey Greta Cantalupi Karl Kpossou Florence Huber Sébastien Rabier Dévi Rita Rochemont Théo Blaise Estelle Thomas Guerline Jean Ruth Pierre Louis Annette Zephirin Célia Basurko Félix Djossou Hawa Cissé William Faurous Quentin Drouaud Mayka Mergeay-Fabre Antoine Adenis Mathieu Nacher Nicolas Vignier Sexual Health Determinants During the Life Course and Migration of Haitian-Origin People in French Guiana: Protocol for the Parcours d’Haïti Biographical and Transdisciplinary Study JMIR Research Protocols |
| title | Sexual Health Determinants During the Life Course and Migration of Haitian-Origin People in French Guiana: Protocol for the Parcours d’Haïti Biographical and Transdisciplinary Study |
| title_full | Sexual Health Determinants During the Life Course and Migration of Haitian-Origin People in French Guiana: Protocol for the Parcours d’Haïti Biographical and Transdisciplinary Study |
| title_fullStr | Sexual Health Determinants During the Life Course and Migration of Haitian-Origin People in French Guiana: Protocol for the Parcours d’Haïti Biographical and Transdisciplinary Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sexual Health Determinants During the Life Course and Migration of Haitian-Origin People in French Guiana: Protocol for the Parcours d’Haïti Biographical and Transdisciplinary Study |
| title_short | Sexual Health Determinants During the Life Course and Migration of Haitian-Origin People in French Guiana: Protocol for the Parcours d’Haïti Biographical and Transdisciplinary Study |
| title_sort | sexual health determinants during the life course and migration of haitian origin people in french guiana protocol for the parcours d haiti biographical and transdisciplinary study |
| url | https://www.researchprotocols.org/2025/1/e63586 |
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