[Identification of barriers to routine HIV testing prescription by midwifes and doctors in Guadeloupe]. / Identification des freins à la prescription du test de dépistage de l'infection au VIH par les sages-femmes et médecins en Guadeloupe.

OBJECTIVES: Guadeloupe is the second highest French area for diagnosis and prevalence of HIV infection and AIDS. In October 2009, the French High Health Authority has published guidelines for a more systematic HIV screening. The goal of this study is to identify the limitations in HIV testing prescription by the Guadeloupian prescribers according to these new recommendations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data were collected with a questionnaire submitted to physicians and midwives after random selection. RESULTS: Among 285 randomly selected prescribers, 67 midwives and 40 physicians participated from August to December 2010. The main limitations to HIV testing prescription were: a consultation for another purpose, patient or his life style were known, and lack of HIV infection symptoms. Some characteristics of more easily screened patient did not match with those who had been newly diagnosed in Guadeloupe. Finally, both quantitative and qualitative knowledge of these new recommendations was insufficient. CONCLUSION: Implementation of these new testing recommendations should give emphasis to the systematic and annual nature of HIV testing for whole population. It should also insist on distinction between HIV testing and diagnosis of a symptomatic patient.

Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and invasive cancer risks in women infected with HIV in the French West Indies.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to assess whether HIV infection is associated with a higher risk of invasive cervical cancer (ICC). METHODS: We conducted a region-wide, population-based observational cohort study of 1232 HIV-infected women over the age of 15 years in Guadeloupe, a French Caribbean archipelago, during the period 1999-2006. The observed numbers of incident cases of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and ICC were compared with the expected numbers of cases based on the incidence rates for the general population, and the standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. RESULTS: The incidence rate of CIN was higher in the HIV-infected women than in the general population for all grades (SIR 10.1, 95% CI 6.8-14.6 for CIN grade 1; SIR 9.9, 95% CI 6.1-15.3 for CIN grade 2; and SIR 5.2, 95% CI 3.4-7.7 for CIN grade 3). However, no increase in the risk of ICC was observed (SIR 1.7, 95% CI 0.3-4.9). CONCLUSIONS: Despite an increase in the occurrence of cervical cancer precursors, no increase in the risk of cervical cancer was found in a population of HIV-infected women who receive treatment for their infection and have access to ICC prevention services.