Heterogeneity of HIV testing practices in free healthcare centers in France: A national demonstration study

Adeline Scanvion; Nicolas Vignier; François Durand; Sophie Poupon-Ferron; Eric Billaud

doi:10.1016/j.idnow.2023.104726

Heterogeneity of HIV testing practices in free healthcare centers in France: A national demonstration study

Infect Dis Now. 2023 Oct;53(7):104726. doi: 10.1016/j.idnow.2023.104726. Epub 2023 Jun 1.

Authors

Adeline Scanvion¹, Nicolas Vignier², François Durand³, Sophie Poupon-Ferron³, Eric Billaud⁴

Affiliations

¹ PASS, Service de Médecine Interne, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nantes, Hôtel Dieu 1, Place Alexis Ricordeau, 44000 Nantes, France.
² Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, IAME, INSERM, UMR 1137, Hôpitaux universitaires Paris Seine-Saint-Denis, Hôpital Avicenne, AP-HP, Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, 93000 Bobigny, France; INSERM CIC 1424, Centre Hospitalier de Cayenne, 97306 Cayenne, France; Institut Convergences Migration, CNRS, 93000 Aubervilliers, France.
³ Gilead Sciences S.A.S, 65 Quai Georges Gorse, 92100 Boulogne-Billancourt, France.
⁴ Service de Maladies Infectieuses, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nantes, Hôtel Dieu 1, Place Alexis Ricordeau, 44000 Nantes, France. Electronic address: eric.billaud@chu-nantes.fr.

PMID: 37268041
DOI: 10.1016/j.idnow.2023.104726

Abstract

Objectives: This nationwide survey aimed to establish an overview of HIV testing practices in French free healthcare centers (Permanences d'Accès aux Soins de Santé - PASS) and to identify potential obstacles encountered by their staff.

Methods: A questionnaire was distributed between January and July 2020 to all French PASS units, with a total of 97 respondents.

Results: Fifty-six percent of responding PASS units did not have a systematic screening protocol. Obstacles cited by respondents in their daily practice included a need for more information on HIV and sexually transmitted disease testing (26%) and the fact that the coordinating physician did not always possess specific HIV-related qualifications (74%).

Conclusion: This study confirmed the essential role of PASS units in providing access to health care and treatment for people in precarious situations and demonstrated that medical staff training in the field of sexual health is essential to the improvement of HIV testing in France.

Keywords: Free health care centers; HIV; Migrants; Screening.