Key points

HIV/AIDS

• Biologists’ participation in the LaboVIH survey was comprehensive in 2021, as it was last year. A resurgence in HIV testing was observed in 2021 (+10%) following the significant drop in 2020, though levels remain slightly below those of 2019; Martinique is among the regions with the highest testing rates in France.

• Rates of positive HIV serology results are also on the rise in 2021, unlike in other regions of France, and are among the highest in the country.

• Estimates of new HIV diagnoses (HIV incidence) and AIDS cases for Martinique were not possible in 2021, as in 2020 (due to limitations in applying the correction factor); nevertheless, mandatory case reporting by clinicians allows for reliable monitoring of the HIV epidemic in Martinique.

• The number of newly diagnosed patients rose slightly in 2021 (52 vs. 45 cases in 2020); In 2021, the number of new HIV diagnoses increased among MSM, young people under 25, and foreign nationals; In 2021, the majority of cases were among people aged 25–49, with a higher proportion of men who have sex with men (MSM) than heterosexuals (52% vs. 48%) compared to previous years.

• In 2021, the proportion of early diagnoses decreased by half, and approximately 2 out of 10 patients were diagnosed at a late stage between 2018 and 2021.

• A significant decline in the use of rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) in 2021 (-62%) was offset to a lesser extent by an increase in sales of HIV self-tests in 2021 compared to 2020 (+24%).

Chlamydia trachomatis infection

• Screening rate = 86.8 per 1,000 inhabitants, significantly higher than the national rate (41.8 per 1,000) and the highest since 2014; higher rate among women aged 15 to 24.

• Resurgence in testing in 2021 (+16%), particularly among men.

• Increase in the rate of Ct infection diagnoses (+51%), with a regional rate of 2.7 per 1,000 inhabitants (compared to 1.7 per 1,000 nationally), the highest since 2014. This increase is more pronounced among young people (+45% among women aged 15 to 24 and +81% among men aged 15 to 24).

Gonococcal infection

• Screening rate = 83.3 per 1,000 inhabitants, significantly higher than the national rate (48.5 per 1,000) and the highest since 2014; higher rate among women aged 15 to 24.

• Resumption of screening in 2021 (+17%), with the highest rate among men under 25 (+40.5%).

Syphilis

• Screening rate = 113.6 per 1,000 inhabitants, the highest since 2014; higher rate among women aged 15 to 24.

• Increase in testing in 2021 (+13%); higher among men under 25 (+40.5%).