COVID-19 and Vaccination: Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of People Working on Illegal Gold Mining Sites in French Guiana
Introduction: French Guiana is a French territory bordering Brazil and Suriname where the COVID-19 pandemic has severely strained the French Guianese health system. The people working on illegal gold mining sites in French Guiana, also known as garimpeiros, are mainly of Brazilian origin. Their heal...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2023-07-01
|
| Series: | Vaccines |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/11/7/1265 |
| _version_ | 1797587316544372736 |
|---|---|
| author | Pierre Durand Célia Basurko Stephen Vreden Mathieu Nacher Maylis Douine |
| author_facet | Pierre Durand Célia Basurko Stephen Vreden Mathieu Nacher Maylis Douine |
| author_sort | Pierre Durand |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction: French Guiana is a French territory bordering Brazil and Suriname where the COVID-19 pandemic has severely strained the French Guianese health system. The people working on illegal gold mining sites in French Guiana, also known as garimpeiros, are mainly of Brazilian origin. Their health conditions are precarious, they live under the radar of the surveillance system and therefore, assessment of their health is quite challenging.. The objective of this study was to describe their knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding COVID-19 and vaccination against this infection. Methods: We conducted an international multicenter cross-sectional survey between 1 March 2022 and 30 April 2022 in French Guiana and Suriname, using a structured questionnaire. Results: Eighty persons were included, 95.0% of whom were Brazilian. Most had good general knowledge of COVID-19. Antibiotic prophylaxis had been practiced by 10.0% of participants. Forty-three people thought they had been infected with COVID-19 (53.8%). Self-medication was frequent, often with antibiotics (32.6%, mostlychloroquine, ivermectin or azithromycin) and most had not consulted a physician for symptoms of COVID-19. A majority (62.5%) had received at least one dose of vaccine. Those who were ever tested for COVID-19 were the most likely to be vaccinated (PR = 1.98, <i>p</i> = 0.009). Conclusions: Garimpeiros have a good level of knowledge about COVID-19 but the high consumption of antibiotics raises concerns about the selection of resistant bacteria. The vaccination rate was higher than that of the Guianese population. The most vaccinated individuals were those who had already taken a COVID test suggesting that these individuals had more exposure to the disease, were more health conscious, or had easier access to health centers. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T00:34:23Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9771b551d64446678d904613051ce157 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-393X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T00:34:23Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Vaccines |
| spelling | doaj.art-9771b551d64446678d904613051ce1572023-11-18T21:41:56ZengMDPI AGVaccines2076-393X2023-07-01117126510.3390/vaccines11071265COVID-19 and Vaccination: Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of People Working on Illegal Gold Mining Sites in French GuianaPierre Durand0Célia Basurko1Stephen Vreden2Mathieu Nacher3Maylis Douine4Antilles Guyane Clinical Investigation Center, CIC Inserm 1424, Cayenne Hospital, Av des Flamboyants, 97300 Cayenne, FranceAntilles Guyane Clinical Investigation Center, CIC Inserm 1424, Cayenne Hospital, Av des Flamboyants, 97300 Cayenne, FranceInternal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Academic Hospital of Paramaribo, Flustratt, Paramaribo, SurinameAntilles Guyane Clinical Investigation Center, CIC Inserm 1424, Cayenne Hospital, Av des Flamboyants, 97300 Cayenne, FranceAntilles Guyane Clinical Investigation Center, CIC Inserm 1424, Cayenne Hospital, Av des Flamboyants, 97300 Cayenne, FranceIntroduction: French Guiana is a French territory bordering Brazil and Suriname where the COVID-19 pandemic has severely strained the French Guianese health system. The people working on illegal gold mining sites in French Guiana, also known as garimpeiros, are mainly of Brazilian origin. Their health conditions are precarious, they live under the radar of the surveillance system and therefore, assessment of their health is quite challenging.. The objective of this study was to describe their knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding COVID-19 and vaccination against this infection. Methods: We conducted an international multicenter cross-sectional survey between 1 March 2022 and 30 April 2022 in French Guiana and Suriname, using a structured questionnaire. Results: Eighty persons were included, 95.0% of whom were Brazilian. Most had good general knowledge of COVID-19. Antibiotic prophylaxis had been practiced by 10.0% of participants. Forty-three people thought they had been infected with COVID-19 (53.8%). Self-medication was frequent, often with antibiotics (32.6%, mostlychloroquine, ivermectin or azithromycin) and most had not consulted a physician for symptoms of COVID-19. A majority (62.5%) had received at least one dose of vaccine. Those who were ever tested for COVID-19 were the most likely to be vaccinated (PR = 1.98, <i>p</i> = 0.009). Conclusions: Garimpeiros have a good level of knowledge about COVID-19 but the high consumption of antibiotics raises concerns about the selection of resistant bacteria. The vaccination rate was higher than that of the Guianese population. The most vaccinated individuals were those who had already taken a COVID test suggesting that these individuals had more exposure to the disease, were more health conscious, or had easier access to health centers.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/11/7/1265COVID-19French GuianaBrazilSurinameAmazonian Forestillegal gold mining |
| spellingShingle | Pierre Durand Célia Basurko Stephen Vreden Mathieu Nacher Maylis Douine COVID-19 and Vaccination: Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of People Working on Illegal Gold Mining Sites in French Guiana Vaccines COVID-19 French Guiana Brazil Suriname Amazonian Forest illegal gold mining |
| title | COVID-19 and Vaccination: Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of People Working on Illegal Gold Mining Sites in French Guiana |
| title_full | COVID-19 and Vaccination: Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of People Working on Illegal Gold Mining Sites in French Guiana |
| title_fullStr | COVID-19 and Vaccination: Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of People Working on Illegal Gold Mining Sites in French Guiana |
| title_full_unstemmed | COVID-19 and Vaccination: Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of People Working on Illegal Gold Mining Sites in French Guiana |
| title_short | COVID-19 and Vaccination: Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of People Working on Illegal Gold Mining Sites in French Guiana |
| title_sort | covid 19 and vaccination knowledge attitudes and practices of people working on illegal gold mining sites in french guiana |
| topic | COVID-19 French Guiana Brazil Suriname Amazonian Forest illegal gold mining |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/11/7/1265 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT pierredurand covid19andvaccinationknowledgeattitudesandpracticesofpeopleworkingonillegalgoldminingsitesinfrenchguiana AT celiabasurko covid19andvaccinationknowledgeattitudesandpracticesofpeopleworkingonillegalgoldminingsitesinfrenchguiana AT stephenvreden covid19andvaccinationknowledgeattitudesandpracticesofpeopleworkingonillegalgoldminingsitesinfrenchguiana AT mathieunacher covid19andvaccinationknowledgeattitudesandpracticesofpeopleworkingonillegalgoldminingsitesinfrenchguiana AT maylisdouine covid19andvaccinationknowledgeattitudesandpracticesofpeopleworkingonillegalgoldminingsitesinfrenchguiana |