C Vuillermoz

Characteristics and health of homeless families: the ENFAMS survey in the Paris region, France 2013

BACKGROUND The objectives were to estimate the size of homeless family population in Paris region, to describe their living conditions and health and to analyse the impact of homelessness on childrens growth and development, which was never investigated in France. METHODS A cross-sectional survey was conducted on a random sample of homeless sheltered families in 2013. Families were interviewed in 17 languages and a nurse took anthropometric measures, blood samples and collected health data from child health reports. RESULTS The population size was estimated at 10 280 families. Half were single-parent female families and 94% were born outside France. Most families had experienced housing instability and 94% were living below the poverty line (828 euros/month). Malnutrition was a major problem: the prevalence of food insecurity was high (77% of parents and 69% of children), as well as anaemia (50% of mothers and 38% of children), overweight (38% of mothers and 22% of children) and obesity (32% of mothers and 4% of children). High rates of depressive disorders were found in 30% of homeless mothers and 20% of children had signs of possible mental health disorders. DISCUSSION These first results highlight the important number of families among the homeless population in Paris region. Families differed from other homeless people regarding social characteristics such as birthplace, single-parent status and residential instability that are likely to influence schooling, social ties, health and access to care. These results demonstrate the need for urgent actions targeting homeless families, in terms of reducing housing instability and providing adequate care, especially for children.

Mortality among homeless people in France, 2008-10.

BACKGROUND Studies in various countries have shown that homeless people have high mortality levels. The aims of this study concerning the French population were to investigate mortality among the homeless and to study their causes of death in comparison to those of the general population. METHODS A representative sample of 1145 homeless deaths registered by an association was matched to the national database of medical causes of death using common descriptive variables. Log-binomial regression was used to compare mortality among the homeless to that of the general population. Multiple imputation was used to manage missing causes of deaths. RESULTS Out of the 1145 registered homeless deaths, 693 were matched to the causes of death database. Homeless deaths were young (average age: 49). Overall, homeless deaths were slightly more frequent during winter. Among all deaths, the probability of being homeless was higher when dying from hypothermia (RR = 6.4), alcohol-related deaths (RR = 1.7), mental disorders, diseases of the digestive and circulatory systems, and undetermined causes (RR from 1.5 to 3.7). CONCLUSION The homeless died at 49 years old on average compared with 77 in the general population in 2008-10. The health of homeless people should be considered not only in winter periods or in terms of alcohol- or cold-related conditions. This study also highlights the need for more precise data to estimate the mortality risks of the homeless in France.

Estimating the number of homeless deaths in France, 2008–2010

BackgroundThe homeless population of France has increased by 50% over the last 10 years. Studies have shown that homelessness is associated with a high risk of premature death. The aim of this study was to estimate the number of homeless deaths in France between 2008 and 2010, using a reproducible method.MethodsWe used the capture-recapture method to estimate the number of homeless deaths in France using two independent sources. An associative register of homeless deaths was matched with the national exhaustive database of the medical causes of death, using several matching approaches based on various combinations of the following variables: gender, age, place of death, date of death.ResultsThe estimated number of homeless deaths between 2008 and 2010 was 6730 (95% CI: [4381–9079]), a number greatly underestimated by the two sources considered separately (less than 20%).ConclusionsIn the absence of a register of the homeless deaths, the capture-recapture method provides an order of magnitude for evaluation of the resources that may be allocated by policy makers to manage the issue. Based on common and routinely produced databases, this estimate may therefore be used to monitor the mortality of the homeless population. Further studies about homeless mortality, particularly on the lead causes of deaths, are needed to manage this issue and to implement strategy to decrease the number of homeless deaths.

Unmet healthcare needs in homeless women with children in the Greater Paris area in France

Background Despite their poor health status, homeless women encounter many barriers to care. The objectives of our study were to estimate the prevalence of unmet healthcare needs in homeless women and to analyse associated relationships with the following factors: financial and spatial access to care, housing history, migration status, healthcare utilisation, victimization history, caring for children, social network and self-perceived health status. Methods We used data from 656 homeless women interviewed during the ENFAMS representative survey of sheltered homeless families, conducted in the Paris region in 2013. Structural equation models (SEM) were used to estimate the impact of various factors on homeless women’s unmet healthcare needs. Results Among those interviewed, 25.1% (95%CI[21.3–29.0]) had at least one unmet healthcare need over the previous year. Most had given up on visiting general practitioners and medical specialists. No association with factors related to financial access or to health insurance status was found. However, food insecurity, poor spatial health access and poor self-perceived health were associated with unmet healthcare needs. Self-perceived health appeared to be affected by victimization and depression. Discussion The lower prevalence of unmet healthcare needs in homeless women compared with women in stable housing situations suggests that homeless women have lower needs perceptions and/or lower expectations of the healthcare system. This hypothesis is supported by the results from SEM. Strategies to provide better access to care for this population should not only focus on financial interventions but also more broadly on spatial healthcare access, cultural norms, and perceptions of health. Reducing their unmet needs and improving their access to healthcare and prevention must include an improvement in their living, financial and housing conditions.

Cervical cancer screening among homeless women in the Greater Paris Area (France): results of the ENFAMS survey.

Little is known about the prevalence of cervical cancer screening (CCS) and its correlates among homeless women in France. The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of women who had never been screened for cervical cancer and to identify the associated factors. This cross-sectional study was based on data collected in the ENFAMS survey, which was conducted in 2013 among 764 sheltered homeless mothers in the Greater Paris Area. Robust Poisson regression models were used to estimate the association between no lifetime CCS and certain sociodemographic and health-related factors (selected from the behavioral model of vulnerable populations). Analyses were carried out separately for women with and without a regular gynaecological follow-up (RGF). The proportion of never-screeners was 33% among the women with an RGF versus 64% among those without an RGF (P<0.001). Among the latter, never having been screened for CCS was associated mainly with socioeconomic conditions, the length of time lived in France, a history of delivery in France and the duration of homelessness. In those with an RGF, the factors were mainly poor health service utilization and language difficulties. This first quantitative study of CCS among homeless women in the Greater Paris Area points to the need for it to be proposed and performed more systematically in primary care. Every contact between this hard-to-reach population and health services should be an opportunity to check their screening status and to ensure that those in need actually undergo a Pap test.

Food Insecurity in Homeless Families in the Paris Region (France): Results from the ENFAMS Survey

The number of families living in shelters in the Paris region (France) has increased by a factor of three in 10 years. In 2013, a survey was performed on homeless families in order to characterize their living conditions, their health needs, and the developmental problems in children. This probability survey was conducted in 17 languages among 801 homeless families sheltered in emergency centers for asylum-seekers, emergency housing centers, social rehabilitation centers, and social hotels in the Paris region. Among the 772 families that provided data on food security only 14.0% were with food security, whereas 43.3% were with low food security and 9.8% with very low food security (a situation where children are also affected). Stratified multivariate robust Poisson models showed that some characteristics are associated with a higher risk of food insecurity and/or of falling into very low food security, such as residential instability, single parenthood, having more than three children, depressive symptoms, housing in social hostels, and difficult access to cheap or free food locally. Given the wealth of the Paris region, resources and programs should be concentrated on improving the living situation of this vulnerable population. It needs better detection of these families, a closer social follow-up, and an increase in food aid.

Hair concentration of trace elements and growth in homeless children aged < 6 years: Results from the ENFAMS study

BACKGROUND Growth is an important indicator of health in early childhood. This is a critical developmental period, during which a number of factors, including exposure to metals, might play a role in later physical and metabolic functions. OBJECTIVE To study the association between exposure to arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), lead (Pb) and selenium (Se), and physical growth of children from homeless families aged <6years. METHODS This study was based on data of the cross-sectional survey (ENFAMS), which was conducted by the Observatoire du Samu Social on a random sample of homeless sheltered families in the Paris region during winter 2013. Families with children under 6years (N=324) were interviewed in 17 languages using face-to-face questionnaires. A nurse took anthropometric measures and collected hair samples where As, Cd, Hg, Pb and Se levels were measured. We calculated weight-for-age Z-score (WAZ), height-for-age Z-score (HAZ) and BMI-for-age Z-score (BMIZ) of children, using the 2006 WHO Child Growth Standards as a reference. Associations between ln-transformed metal exposures and growth outcomes were tested by multivariable linear regression models with adjustment for potential confounders (including maternal anthropometrical and socio-demographical characteristics, gestational age, child birthweight, breastfeeding, food insecurity of the child). Due to missing data (1.6% to 14.2% depending on the variables), we used multiple imputation by chained equations. RESULTS A strong positive correlation was found between Pb and Cd levels (r=0.65; p<0.001). Positive associations between Se level and HAZ (β=0.61; p=0.05) and between Cd and BMIZ (β=0.21; p=0.03) and negative associations between As and HAZ (β=-0.18; p=0.05) were no more significant after multiple imputation. A weak negative trend was observed between Cd and HAZ (β=-0.14; p=0.14), while positive trends were found between Se and both WAZ (β=0.55; p=0.10) and HAZ (β=0.51; p=0.06) after multiple imputation. CONCLUSION Overall, our results found no strong association between exposure to metals and physical growth of homeless children but we observed some trends that were consistent with previous studies. More research is required studying these associations longitudinally, along with higher sample sizes, for better understanding the sources of exposure in homeless population and the potential effects on growth.

Non-access to prenatal care for the migrant pregnant women seen by Doctors of the World in EuropeNathalie Simonnot

N Simonnot, C Vuillermoz, F Vanbiervliet, M Vicart, P Chauvin Doctors of the World – Médecins du Monde International Network, 75018 Paris, France INSERM, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, UMRS 1136, IPLESP, ERES, 75012 Paris, France Contact: nathalie.simonnot@medecinsdumonde.net Background Since 2006, the the Doctors of the World – Médecins du Monde (MdM) International Network Observatory has been conducting multicenter surveys in Europe among vulnerable people – the vast majority of whom are immigrants – who make use of its national programs, in order to describe their social and health-related characteristics and the obstacles to access to care, with the goal of informing the public authorities and European institutions and bringing about positive changes. Materials and Methods A cross-sectional analysis of routine data collected from 23,341 patients who came to MdM clinics in 26 cities in 11 countries in 2014 (Belgium, Canada, France, Germany Greece, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and United Kingdom). Of them, 8849 were women, 437 of whom were pregnant. Results Nearly all of the pregnant women who visited the MdM clinics were foreigners, half of whom did not have a residency permit. More than half of the women interviewed in Europe had inadequate housing, 62.9% considered their dwelling harmful to their health, and nearly all of them were living below the poverty line in their host country. A third had no one to turn to in case of need. More than half had not had access to a prenatal follow-up (54.2%). Only half of the pregnant women knew their HIV status, and 14.3% were HIV-positive. Discussion The analysis of the face-to-face data from these women with multiple health vulnerabilities, together with an examination of the current national legislation, shows how much work still needs to be done to ensure a systematic prenatal follow-up for all pregnant women, and for their unborn children, in accordance with WHO recommendations. Key messages Many poor migrant pregnant women lack of ante and post natal care in Europe Doctors of the World – Médecins du Monde (MdM) International Network Observatory plea for a true universal access to ante and post natal care all over the EU 90 European Journal of Public Health, Vol. 25, Supplement 3, 2015

Homeless-ness is associated with psycho-pathologies

Background The objectives were to estimate the size of homeless family population in Paris region, to describe their living conditions and health, and to analyse the impact of homelessness on childrens growth and development. Methods In 2013, we conducted a cross-sectional survey on a random sample of homeless …