JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

French Guiana is a French overseas territory located in the Guiana Shield in South America, exposed to specific social and demographic challenges, notably in terms of migration. Haitians are one of the three main foreign communities in French Guiana, and face specific barriers in accessing healthcare and prevention. They are also one of the key populations for HIV infection. We describe here the protocol of the PARCOURS D’HAÏTIstudy, designed to update knowledge on the health of the Haitian population living in French Guiana, using a transdisciplinary approach to gain a detailed understanding of the determinants of health and the processes underlying HIV contamination. This mixed-methods study was based primarily on a quantitative epidemiological and biographical study of people originated from Haiti aged between 18 and 60 who had been living in French Guiana for more than 3 months. The biographical component was based on the use of a biographical grid providing information on variables year by year since birth. Secondly, a qualitative component included three sub-studies based on semi-directive interviews and focus groups with field professionals and people from Haiti, aimed at gaining a better understanding of the use of traditional and biomedical care, access to care and the mental health of people from Haiti. The study material was co-constructed with local stakeholders and community health workers. Recruitment of this discreet population was based on an original method involving all players in the field and mobilizing a wide range of places frequented by the Haitian community. Recruitment and data collection were then carried out by Haitian Creole-speaking peer investigators (community health mediators).