Enhancing sexual health and empowerment among migrant women sex workers: a community health worker-led intervention in Marseille, France.

Introduction: Given the high infection rate of sexually transmitted infections (STI) among migrant women sex workers (WSWs), it is necessary to understand how to improve prevention, information and care for this vulnerable population. Community health workers (CHWs), by linking community to health services, are positioned to improve health outcomes in migrant communities. This article aims to describe a pilot innovative intervention performed by CHWs to improve sexual health in migrant WSWs. Methods: This one-year intervention study used a respondent-driven sampling (RDS) to recruit a representative cohort of migrant WSWs in Marseille, France. Four CHWs were recruited from different communities and participated in all stages of the research. They performed individual and group interventions of prevention, support in care and empowerment. Data on participant characteristics, type of intervention and adherence to the intervention were reported via questionnaires given to participants. Simultaneously, semi-structured interviews and informal interviews of migrant WSW, CHWs and care providers were carried out. Results: A total of 132 migrant WSWs were included in the cohort. Very few of them knew about PrEP (12%) or already used HIV post-exposure treatment (9%). Migrant WSWs were often victims of rape or racism, 15 and 21%, respectively. In two-thirds of cases the level of health literacy was low. Participants suffered from a combination of vulnerability factors: difficulties with access to social rights, food or housing. Only 13% reported having benefited from medical follow-up or assistance by an NGO in the 3 months prior to the program. By 3 months, more than one third of the participants had been tested for HIV (35%) and 63% knew about PrEP. A total retention rate of 70% was reported in the cohort after 6 months. Conclusion: CHWs enabled to improve care access for migrant WSWs by improving the collaboration between care and social actors at a local level. Through these "bring-back-to" interventions for this hard-to-reach population, CHWs enabled an optimization of the care pathway. Our results also highlight the importance of a population-based approach for individual and group support of empowerment interventions in order to strengthen their capacity for action.

A conceptual framework to model social determinants of COVID-19 vaccination uptake among underserved homeless populations.

Background:  Homeless people have a higher risk of COVID-19 infection, linked to several social, economic and environmental determinants, frequent comorbidities, obstacles to exercising their constitutional social and health rights, poor medical cover, and insufficient use of the healthcare system. Data on COVID-19 vaccine uptake and its main determinants are lacking for this underserved population. Objectives:  To construct and test a conceptual framework to model structural social determinants of COVID-19 vaccine uptake among underserved homeless populations, and to test this model to identify the determinants of COVID-19 vaccine uptake on the homeless population living in two metropolitan areas in France. Methods:  We implemented a multicenter cross-sectional survey from 15/11/2021 to 22/12/2021 in homeless adults in the city of Marseille and in the greater Paris area. Persons sheltered in migrant worker hostels or in emergency social shelters, members of the COVID HOMELESS cohort study in Marseille, and Travelers living in traditional housing were all eligible. A standardized face-to-face questionnaire was administered to the participants where they lived in various languages by trained interviewers. We used structural equation modeling to analyze the structural social determinants of COVID-19 vaccine uptake, the latter defined as receiving at least one dose. Results:  The participation rate was 64 %, accounting for 3811 participants. There were three main factors associated with greater vaccine uptake: i) opportunity, which included having a personal general practitioner (ß = 0.05, p < 0.05), healthcare cover (ß = 0.05, p < 0.05), and somebody to accompany the participant for medical appointments (ß = -0.04, p < 0.05); ii) motivation, which included attitudes towards vaccination (ß = 0.55, p < 0.05), press- and poster-based information (ß = 0.03, p < 0.05), and vaccination history (ß = 0.03, p < 0.05); iii) type of housing (ß = 0.13, p < 0.05) and housing stability (ß = 0.04, p < 0.05). Conclusion:  Our results highlight that housing exclusion is a structural social determinant of COVID-19 vaccine uptake in homeless people in France. They also underline the role which opportunity and motivation play in improving uptake in this underserved homeless population.

Co-construction d'une étude sur la santé des Gens du voyage : retours d'expériences.

INTRODUCTION: Travelers have poorer health than the general population due to more precarious living conditions. In France, there are no epidemiological studies on Travelers, accentuating their invisibility in public health policy and planning. Discrimination against them, their distrust of the state and institutions, and their non-prioritization of health were the reasons for a participatory research project on Travelers’ health status. This research was carried out collaboratively by researchers, decision-makers, associations, and volunteer Travelers in Nouvelle-Aquitaine. PURPOSE OF RESEARCH: In this article we aim to share the challenges and benefits of the co-construction of this research. RESULTS: The approach allowed the specific and sometimes divergent expectations of the stakeholders to be expressed and taken into consideration. It required a period of mutual acculturation, which resulted in a high level of participation in the study (74 percent), the acquisition of knowledge and skills, and the identification of points of contention. This participatory approach led to a better appropriation of the study and a greater awareness of health issues among the respondents, particularly thanks to the co-construction of the questionnaire and the communication tools. CONCLUSIONS: This approach highlights the need to involve stakeholders in the governance of the research project from the very beginning. The approach was all the more crucial as it involved socially excluded people, and aims to avoid the possibility of excluding them further in the production of knowledge that concerns them.

Social and clinical vulnerability in stroke and STEMI management during the COVID-19 pandemic: a registry-based study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate whether the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a deterioration in the quality of care for socially and/or clinically vulnerable stroke and ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients. DESIGN: Two cohorts of STEMI and stroke patients in the Aquitaine neurocardiovascular registry. SETTING: Six emergency medical services, 30 emergency units, 14 hospitalisation units and 11 catheterisation laboratories in the Aquitaine region in France. PARTICIPANTS: This study involved 9218 patients (6436 stroke and 2782 STEMI patients) in the neurocardiovascular registry from January 2019 to August 2020. PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Care management times in both cohorts: first medical contact-to-procedure time for the STEMI cohort and emergency unit admission-to-imaging time for the stroke cohort. Associations between social (deprivation index) and clinical (age >65 years, neurocardiovascular history) vulnerabilities and care management times were analysed using multivariate linear mixed models, with an interaction on the time period (pre-wave, per-wave and post-first COVID-19 wave). RESULTS: The first medical contact procedure time was longer for elderly (p<0.001) and 'very socially disadvantaged' (p=0.003) STEMI patients, with no interaction regarding the COVID-19 period (age, p=0.54; neurocardiovascular history, p=0.70; deprivation, p=0.64). We found no significant association between vulnerabilities and the admission imaging time for stroke patients, and no interaction with respect to the COVID-19 period (age, p=0.81; neurocardiovascular history, p=0.34; deprivation, p=0.95). CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed pre-existing inequalities in care management times for vulnerable STEMI and stroke patients; however, these inequalities were neither accentuated nor reduced during the first COVID-19 wave. Measures implemented during the crisis did not alter the structured emergency pathway for these patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT04979208.

Factors associated with vaccine adherence among an underserved population: the adult Travellers in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France.

BACKGROUND: A measles epidemic affected the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region from November 2017 to May 2018 with clusters among Travellers. This indicates that measles vaccination rates among Travellers remain lower than in the general population. The objective of this study was to estimate the 'declarative vaccination' against measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) and to propose a conceptual framework to help identify determinants of MMR vaccination uptake among adult Travellers in Nouvelle-Aquitaine in 2019-20. METHODS: A cross-sectional study using random sampling was performed and included 612 adult Travellers from 1 November 2019 to 31 March 2020. A conceptual framework to model vaccination adherence was tested among this underserved population by using structural equation modelling. This model included five latent variables: health literacy, attitudes toward preventive measures, stigma, accessibility to care and perceived needs and five measured variables: information received on vaccination, perception of barriers, support for administrative documents, social support and housing conditions. RESULTS: Individuals who did not answer all the questions linked to the variables included in the model were excluded, thus 347 adults were included in the final sample. The declared vaccination rate against MMR was 74.0%, and 72.4% of the participants were favorable to vaccination. Vaccination adherence was significantly correlated with favorable attitudes toward preventive measures such as having a history of MMR vaccination and not having already refused a recommended vaccine and finally satisfactory information received on vaccination. DISCUSSION: To improve vaccination adherence, health authorities should lean on personal history with vaccination and on transmitting information on vaccination.

Initiation of multiple-session psychological care in civilians exposed to the November 2015 Paris terrorist attacks.

BACKGROUND: Terrorist attacks can induce post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression, which require multiple-session psychological care (MSPC). This study aims at investigating MSPC initiation and associated factors. METHODS: Data were collected from a web-based survey of civilians 8-12 months after their exposure to the November 2015 Paris terrorist attacks. Depression and partial and full PTSD were assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the PCL-5 checklist, respectively. Questionnaires collected data on socio-demographic variables, exposure to the attacks, psychological treatment history, social isolation, somatic problems, having received an outreach psychological support (OPS), consultations with a general practitioner, contact with an association for victims, MSPC initiation and, if not, reasons for not having initiated it. Logistic regressions were used to examine factors associated with MSPC initiation. RESULTS: Among the 450 respondents, 154 reported having initiated a MSPC after the attacks. Of the 134 who provided the MSPC initiation date, 50% did so during the first month. Among the respondents with at least one of the considered psychological disorders, 53% declared not having initiated yet a MSPC. The primary three reasons for not having initiated a MSPC among people with PTSD were "did not feel the need", "it was not the right time to talk about it", and "not offered". For people with at least one psychological disorder, MSPC initiation was associated with the number of somatic problems, type of exposure (witness, threatened, indirectly exposed), prior psychological treatment, being a woman, being in a relationship, having consulted a psychiatrist or a psychologist, having received an OPS, and being in contact with association for victims. CONCLUSION: The organization of adequate psychological care after a terror attack must take into account the need for healthcare that may emerge several months after the attack, and that witnesses seem less likely to receive MSPC than persons directly threatened despite their psychological disorder. Associations for victims and OPS seem to facilitate access to MSPC. Furthermore, our findings highlight the need to train physicians to screen for psychological disorders in persons exposed to terrorist attacks who present with somatic disorders.

Impact of the 7/14/2016 Nice terrorist attack on pediatric emergency department visits thanks to syndromic surveillance: a descriptive study.

Objective: Study the impact of 14th July 2016 Nice terrorist attack on Pediatric Emergency Department (PED) visits by youth under 18 years of age. Methods: PED visits diagnoses (ICD10) were clustered and analyzed based on retrospective data from the syndromic surveillance system of the Children's university hospital of Nice (Southern France). The studied period ranges from 2013 to 2019, i.e., 3 years before and after the terrorist attack of 14th July 2016. Results: Among 416,191 PED visits, the number of visits for stress in 4-17 years old appeared to increase in the 3 years after the attack compared to the 3 years before, particularly in September 2016 (acute effect) with 11 visits compared to an average of 2.3 visits per month from September 2013 to 2016 (p = 0.001827). In September 2017, we noticed 21 visits compared to an average of 4.8 visits per month during the following period (2013-2019). In 2017, PED visits for stress among 4-17 year olds were higher in comparison to the other years of the study: 107 visits compared to an annual average of 57. Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first study of the use of the pediatric care system before and after a terrorist attack involving syndromic surveillance. This suggests acute and long-term effects of the terrorist attack on PED use by youth for mental health issues. Further studies of the pediatric care system involving syndromic surveillance are needed in the context of mass violent events, such as terrorist attacks.

Health status, healthcare use and child MMR vaccination coverage in Travellers according to their environmental and living conditions in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France, 2019-2022.

BACKGROUND: The poor health status of underserved populations is compounded by low vaccination uptake, leading to a greater risk of epidemics. On October 2017, a measles outbreak started in the southwest of France among under-vaccinated social groups, including Travellers. We aimed to describe the health status, healthcare use and child measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccination coverage in Travellers according to their environmental and living conditions. METHODS: A cross-sectional study with a three-stage random sample design was conducted between October 2019 and March 2022 in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region in France. Trained social workers administered face-to-face questionnaires to collect data on adults and children. Anthropometric measurements, vaccination records and data using an environmental exposure questionnaire were also collected. RESULTS: The participation rate was high (73.6%), with 1030 adults and 337 children included. Concerning the adults, 36.6% had obesity, 14.4% reported diabetes, 24.7% hypertension and 14.4% major depression. The prevalence of major depression was significantly higher in adults living in precarious and unauthorized housing than in those with adequate housing (19.8 vs. 14.7%, P = 0.03). With regard to children, 45.3% had full (i.e. 2-dose) MMR vaccination coverage at 24 months and 17.9% had obesity. Finally, 74.5% of the households experienced housing insecurity, and 22.2% did not have a supply of drinking water. CONCLUSION: Traveller children and adults faced deleterious environmental and living conditions potentially affecting their health, healthcare use and vaccination coverage. These results demonstrate the need for urgent interventions for underserved populations which take into account their specific needs.

Environment and child well-being: A scoping review of reviews to guide policies.

Background: Acting on social determinants is the most effective, efficient, and fairest strategy to improve population health and health equity. Because of their vulnerability and dependence, children are particularly exposed to the deleterious effects of their living environment. Taking these issues into account in the development of public policies and identifying levers for action are crucial. The objective of this scoping review of reviews is to identify the main environmental determinants on children's health and development, and their mechanisms of effect, to be addressed by public policies. Methods: We conducted a scoping review of reviews in accordance with the method developed by Arksey and O'Malley, and Levac and colleagues' methodology advancement and the PRISMA guideline. Inclusion criteria were identified with the PICos (population-phenomena of interest-context-study design) framework. We used the PubMed database and conducted a thematic analyze. Results: Forty-seven articles were selected. Their analysis allowed us to identify five categories of interdependent environmental determinants of child health: i) urban design ii) contaminants, iii) parenting environment, iv) social conditions, v) climate change. Together and in a systemic way, they act on the health of the child. Conclusion: The review carried out allows us to propose a pragmatic framework for clarifying the effects of the physical, social, and economic environment on children's health and wellbeing.

Effectiveness of a Community Empowerment Intervention to Improve Access to Pre-exposure Prophylaxis in Migrant Women Sex Workers: Protocol for a Mixed Methods Implementation Study.

BACKGROUND: The World Health Organization recommends pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for all populations at substantial risk of HIV infection. However, at-risk women very rarely use PrEP in France-this represents a critical issue among migrant women sex workers (MWSWs). Previous studies on PrEP use among women sex workers or migrants focused on individual or social determinants of motivation. However, operational studies in real-word settings using a holistic population approach to maximize PrEP adherence among MWSWs are lacking. OBJECTIVE: FASSETS (ie, "Favoriser l'Accès à la Santé Sexuelle des Travailleuses du Sexe"; English: "facilitate the access to Sexual Health in women sex workers") is a participative, multilevel, mixed methods study aiming to improve global knowledge of and access to sexual health care and PrEP among MWSWs through targeted empowerment strategies. METHODS: This study comprises several phases: (1) phase 1: an initial qualitative study combining semistructured interviews, informal interviews, and participative observations will be performed among MWSWs, local community nongovernmental organizations, and institutions providing sexual reproductive health services to identify the determinants of PrEP access among MWSWs and for respondent-driven sampling (RDS); (2) phase 2: the size of the hidden MWSW population is estimated in Marseille through capture-recapture (the RDS survey will serve as "recapture"); (3) phase 3: a longitudinal cohort will be formed through RDS to represent the MWSW population with a goal of 150 inclusions-this cohort will be followed up for 12 months, and sequential questionnaires exploring medical history; knowledge of sexual health, HIV, and sexually transmitted infections; migration route; and current living conditions will be administered at inclusion (month 0) and months 3, 6, and 12 to measure the following interventional phase's outcomes; and (4) phase 4: an interventional study with community empowerment actions about sexual health and PrEP will be conducted with community health workers; standardized questionnaires and semistructured interviews, observations, and focus groups will highlight MWSWs' experiences with empowerment resources, concerns about sexual health, and especially PrEP use or uptake, and we will evaluate whether and how community-adapted empowerment actions conducted by community health workers are effective in increasing access to sexual health, prevention and screening of sexually transmitted infections, and PrEP knowledge and access among MWSWs. RESULTS: Recruitment commenced on March 1, 2022. We estimate the follow-up period to end on September 30, 2023. CONCLUSIONS: This multiphase study will provide robust evidence about the magnitude of the MWSW population in Marseille (the second largest town in France) and their current conditions of living, access to and knowledge of sexual health, and PrEP access. Using a mixed methods analysis, we will investigate whether individual and collective community health empowerment approaches can facilitate access to PrEP and its initiation, use, and adherence in this vulnerable population. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/42844.

Social determinants associated with psychological distress in children and adolescents during and after the first COVID-19-related lockdown in France: results from the CONFEADO study.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to analyze the parental socio-demographic characteristics of children and adolescents aged 9 to 18 years old, as well as the living and housing conditions associated with the psychological distress in these two sub-populations during and after France's first national COVID-19-related lockdown in spring 2020. METHODS: We used data from the cross-sectional, observational, web-based study CONFEADO, which collected data on children and adolescents' living and housing conditions and socio-demographic characteristics as well as those of their parents. It also collected data on children's and adolescents' health behaviors and psychological distress. We assessed psychological distress using the 10-item Children and Adolescents Psychological Distress Scale (CAPDS-10), and performed a multinomial logistic regression. RESULTS: A total of 2882 children and adolescents were included in the present study. Factors associated with moderate psychological distress included being a female, parental financial difficulties, a lack of a private living space at home for the child/adolescent, and the following child health behaviors: no leisure or recreational activities with adults in the household, doing less than one hour of school homework a day, and not going outside during the lockdown. Severe psychological distress was associated with the parent's occupation (especially essential frontline workers), a lack of a private living space at home for the child/adolescent, and the following child health behaviors: spending over 5 h a day on social media, doing less than one hour of school homework a day, and no leisure or recreational activities with adults in the household. CONCLUSIONS: This study emphasizes the impact of housing and living conditions, as well as parents' socio-economic characteristics on children's health behaviors and psychological needs during the first COVID-19-related lockdown in France. Our results suggest that health policies implemented during future pandemics should consider these structural social determinants to prevent severe psychological distress in children and adolescents.

Is breastfeeding duration related to the health of migrant mother-child dyads experiencing homelessness? The ENFAMS cross-sectional survey.

BACKGROUND: Literature from the general population shows a consensus about the health benefits associated with breastfeeding for both mothers and children. However, studies investigating these issues in the context of homelessness and migration are rare. This research aimed to examine the relations of any breastfeeding duration with health outcomes among migrant mother-child dyads experiencing homelessness. METHODS: Data were collected among sheltered and mainly foreign-born mothers experiencing homelessness, and their children aged 6 months to 5 years, from the ENFAMS cross-sectional survey (n = 481, 2013-Great Paris area). Any breastfeeding duration, along with various health outcomes of both the mother and her child, was ascertained by face-to-face questionnaires administered by trained interviewers to mothers (perceived physical and emotional health and maternal depression) or by trained psychologists to children (adaptive behaviours). Nurses measured weight and height [thus allowing them to calculate body mass index (BMI)] and haemoglobin concentration (mother-child dyad) and maternal blood pressure. Multivariable linear and modified Poisson regression analyses were performed to examine outcome-wide associations between any breastfeeding duration ≥6 months and the various mother-child outcomes. RESULTS: Any breastfeeding ≥6 months was associated with lower systolic blood pressure in mothers (B = -0.40, 95% confidence interval = -0.68 to -0.12). No association was observed with the other outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: The relevance of supporting breastfeeding to improve mothers' physical health holds true in the context of migration and homelessness. It is therefore important to support breastfeeding in these settings. Moreover, given the documented social complexity of breastfeeding practices, interventions should take mothers' socio-cultural heritage and the structural barriers they face into account.

A global perspective on gun violence injuries.

INTRODUCTION AND DEFINITIONS: Civilian gunshot violence is a growing public health issue on a global scale. Treatment of patients with gunshot injuries is based on algorithms derived from military studies, but the distinct differences in weaponry, energy of injury, timing and type of care, and environment translate to a gap in knowledge. With a focus on non-accidental gunshot trauma and excluding suicide etiologies, we propose to build a collaborative research group to address important questions focused on best practices for gunshot injury patients. PRE-HOSPITAL CARE: There are important differences in the care of gunshot victims across the globe; some countries provide advanced interventions in the field and others deliver basic support until transport to a higher level of care in hospital. Some simple interventions include the use of extremity tourniquets and intravenous fluid support; others to consider are tranexamic acid, whole blood, and hemostatic agents. ACUTE TREATMENT: Control of exsanguinating hemorrhage is a key priority for gunshot injuries. Military doctrine has evolved to prioritize exsanguination over airway or breathing as the critical first step. The X-ABC protocol focuses on exsanguinating hemorrhage, then standard evaluation of Airway, Breathing and Circulation (ABCs) to enhance survival in trauma patients. The timing of bony stabilization, in terms of damage-control vs definitive care, needs further study in this population, as does use of antibiotics for bony extremity injuries. Finally, recognition of the mental health effects of gun trauma, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety disorders, substance abuse and depression is important in advocating for prevention such as implementation of social support and specific interventions. DEFINITIVE CARE: The need for abdominal closure after exploratory laparotomy, definitive fracture treatment, and other treatment all contribute to length of stay for gunshot injured patients. Optimizing stabilization allows earlier mobilization and decreases nosocomial complications. Nerve injuries are often a source of long-term disability and their evaluation and treatment require further investigation. RESOURCES AND ETHICS: There are growing numbers of mass-casualty gunshot events, which require consideration of how to organize and use resources for treatment, including staff, operating room access, blood products, and order of treatment. Drills and planning for incident command hierarchy and communication are key to optimizing resource utilization. The ethics of choosing treatment priorities and resources are important considerations as well.

Social determinants of inadequate prenatal care utilization in sheltered homeless mothers in the Greater Paris area in France.

Background: Sheltered homeless families suffer from deleterious living conditions such as housing instability (i.e., moving from one shelter to another) that could be an additional barrier to healthcare utilization. Few studies have specifically examined perinatal health in homeless mothers and their utilization of prenatal healthcare. This study aimed to identify social determinants such as living conditions (i.e., housing instability) associated with inadequate prenatal care utilization (PCU) in sheltered homeless mothers in the Greater Paris area in France. Methods: The homeless children and families cross-sectional survey [ENFAMS: (Enfants et familles sans logement)] was performed on a random representative sample of homeless families living in shelters in the greater Paris area in 2013. Following French guidelines, PCU was deemed inadequate if one or more of the following criteria was met: attending fewer than 50% of recommended prenatal visits, PCU initiation after the first trimester of pregnancy, and fewer than three ultrasounds during the entire pregnancy. Families were interviewed in 17 languages by trained peer interviewers in face-to-face interviews. Structural equation modeling was used to identify factors associated with inadequate PCU and to estimate correlations between them. Results: This study analyzed data on 121 homeless sheltered mothers who had at least one child less than one year old. They were socially disadvantaged and most were born outside France. One in five (19.3%) had inadequate PCU. Associated factors were socio-demographic characteristics (young age, primiparous), health status (dissatisfaction with self-perceived general health), and living conditions (housing instability in the second and third trimesters). Conclusion: It is essential to reduce housing instability to help sheltered mothers to benefit from social, territorial and medical support and healthcare utilization. Housing stability for pregnant sheltered homeless mothers should be a priority to ensure better PCU and guarantee the newborn's health as much as possible.

Post-traumatic stress disorder among civilians 6 and 18 months after the January 2015 terrorist attacks in the Paris region.

In the literature, the association between medium and long-term PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) after terrorist attack has rarely been described. The objective of our study was to identify the factors associated with PTSD in the medium and longer term among people exposed to a terrorist attack in France. We used data from a longitudinal survey of 123 terror-exposed people interviewed 6-10 (medium term) and 18-22 (long term) months after. Mental health was assessed by the Mini Neuropsychiatric Interview. PTSD in the medium term was associated with history of traumatic events, low levels of social support and severe peri-traumatic reactions, which were in turn associated with high levels of terror exposure. PTSD in the medium term was linked in turn to the presence of anxiety and depressive disorders, which was also linked to PTSD in the longer term. The factors leading to PTSD are different in the medium and long term. In order to improve future support for people exposed to distressing events, it is important to follow up people with intense peri-traumatic reactions, high levels of anxiety and depression and to measure reactions.

PTSD and Partial PTSD among First Responders One and Five Years after the Paris Terror Attacks in November 2015.

Following the Paris terror attacks in November 2015, a large number of first responders (FR) were mobilized and consequently were at risk of developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Based on the ESPA 13 November survey, the objectives of this study were to 1) describe the prevalence of PTSD and partial PTSD in FR five years after the attacks, 2) describe the changes in PTSD and partial PTSD from one to five years after the attacks, and 3) examine factors associated with PTSD and partial PTSD five years after the attacks. Data were collected using an online questionnaire. PTSD and partial PTSD were measured using the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist based on the DSM-5 (PCL-5). Gender, age, responder category, education level, exposure, mental health history, history of traumatic events, training, social support, concern about the COVID-19 epidemic, and somatic problems present after the attacks were all analyzed as potential factors associated with PTSD and partial PTSD using multinomial logistic regression. A total of 428 FR were included 5 years after the attacks, of which 258 had participated also 1 year after the attacks. Five years after the attacks, the prevalence of PTSD and partial PTSD were 8.6% and 22%, respectively. Presence of somatic problems after the attacks were associated with PTSD. Involvement in dangerous crime scenes was associated with a higher risk of partial PTSD. No awareness of psychological risks in the context of professional activity through specific training was associated with partial PTSD, in particular among participants aged 45 years or more. To mitigate PTSD for FR, monitoring mental health symptoms, providing mental health education, and providing treatment may be needed for several years after the attacks.

Parents' depression and anxiety associated with hyperactivity-inattention and emotional symptoms in children during school closure due to COVID-19 in France.

Several risk factors of children's mental health issues have been identified during the pandemic of COronaVIrus Disease first appeared in 2019 (COVID-19). This study aims to fill the knowledge gap regarding the association between parents' and children's mental health issues during the COVID-19 school closure in France. We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of data collected in the SAPRIS-ELFE study during the COVID-19 pandemic in France. Using multinomial logistic regressions, we estimated associations between parents' and children's mental health issues. Symptoms of anxiety were assessed by the General Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) and depression by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) for the parents. Hyperactivity/inattention and emotional symptoms in children were assessed by the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). The sample included 3496 children aged 8 to 9 years, of whom 50.0% were girls. During the school closure, 7.1% of responding parents had moderate to severe levels of anxiety and 6.7% had moderate to severe levels of depression. A total of 11.8% of the children had an abnormal hyperactivity/inattention score and 6.6% had an abnormal emotional symptoms score. In multivariate regression models, parental moderate to severe level of anxiety and moderate to severe level of depression were associated with abnormal hyperactivity-inattention score (adjusted Odds Ratio (aOR) 3.31; 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 2.33-4.70 and aOR 4.65; 95% CI 3.27-6.59, respectively) and abnormal emotional symptoms score in children (aOR 3.58; 95% CI 2.33-5.49 and aOR 3.78; 95 CI 2.47-5.78 respectively). Children whose parents have symptoms of anxiety and/or depression have an increased likelihood of symptoms of hyperactivity/inattention and emotional symptoms during school closures in France due to COVID-19. Our findings suggest that public health initiatives should target parents and children to limit the impact of such crises on their mental health issues.

Estimating COVID-19 vaccine uptake and its drivers among migrants, homeless and precariously housed people in France.

BACKGROUND: Migrants, people experiencing homelessness (PEH), or precariously housed (PH) are at high risk for COVID-19 infection, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19. However, while data on COVID-19 vaccine uptake in these populations are available in the USA, Canada, and Denmark, we are lacking, to the best of our knowledge, data from France. METHODS: In late 2021, we carried out a cross-sectional survey to determine COVID-19 vaccine coverage in PEH/PH residing in Ile-de-France and Marseille, France, and to explore its drivers. Participants aged over 18 years were interviewed face-to-face where they slept the previous night, in their preferred language, and then stratified for analysis into three housing groups (Streets, Accommodated, and Precariously Housed). Standardized vaccination rates were computed and compared to the French population. Multilevel univariate and multivariable logistic regression models were built. RESULTS: We find that 76.2% (95% confidence interval [CI] 74.3-78.1) of the 3690 participants received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose while 91.1% of the French population did so. Vaccine uptake varies by stratum, with the highest uptake (85.6%; reference) in PH, followed by Accommodated (75.4%; adjusted odds-ratio = 0.79; 95% CI 0.51-1.09 vs. PH) and lowest in Streets (42.0%; AOR = 0.38; 95%CI 0.25-0.57 vs. PH). Use for vaccine certificate, age, socioeconomic factors, and vaccine hesitancy is associated with vaccination coverage. CONCLUSIONS: In France, PEH/PH, and especially the most excluded, are less likely than the general population to receive COVID-19 vaccines. While vaccine mandate has proved an effective strategy, targeted outreach, on-site vaccinations, and sensitization activities are strategies enhancing vaccine uptake that can easily be replicated in future campaigns and other settings.

Vulnerable populations, such as people experiencing homelessness, are less likely to have a COVID-19 vaccine. We aimed to identify potential reasons for this, by interviewing homeless/precariously housed people in France. We found that although most homeless people have been vaccinated, vaccination rates are lower than the general population. Among the homeless, the least likely to be vaccinated are those living on the streets. The need for vaccine certificates and the support of social workers are positive drivers of vaccine uptake, while influence from family/friends, vaccine hesitancy and fear of the vaccine negatively affect uptake. Providing vaccines on-site and tailoring programs to better target these vulnerable groups should be priorities. Raising awareness by involving trusted third parties is also key to countering negative vaccine beliefs. Our insights apply beyond the COVID-19 crisis, when routinely supporting the health of vulnerable populations.

Digital contact tracing during the COVID-19 pandemic in France: Associated factors and reasons for non-use.

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the proportion of users of the TousAntiCovid app(lication) and identify factors associated with its non-use for contact tracing. METHODS: We conducted an online survey of a quota sample of French adults between 8 and 18 January 2021. Three categories of TousAntiCovid use were considered: contact tracing, other or temporary usage, and no use. A weighted multiple logistic regression was performed to analyze the factors associated with these different uses. RESULTS: Among the 1000 respondents, 63.3% declared they had never downloaded the TousAntiCovid app, 23.5% used it for contact tracing. The remaining 13.2% did not enable contact tracing, mainly because of excessive battery consumption and fear of misuse of personal data. Trust in political representatives, financial deprivation and other factors were associated with never downloading the app. CONCLUSION: This study confirms the previously suggested links between trust in political representatives, financial deprivation and the use of contact tracing apps in France.