Epidemiological surveillance within the CEGIDD

Free Centers for Information, Screening, and Diagnosis of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infections, Viral Hepatitis, and Sexually Transmitted Infections

Established by the 2015 Social Security Finance Act, the CeGIDDs resulted from the merger of the anonymous and free screening clinics (CDAG) and the Centers for Information, Screening, and Diagnosis of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) (Ciddist). Compared to the two pre-existing structures, the CeGIDDs’ missions have been expanded. In addition to screening for HIV, viral hepatitis, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), they must offer a comprehensive approach to sexual health and better target populations most removed from the healthcare system.

The CeGIDDs were established on January 1, 2016, under the responsibility of the regional health agencies (ARS), and their funding is provided by Social Security through regional intervention funds (FIR).

As part of its surveillance missions, Santé publique France is responsible for epidemiological surveillance within the CeGIDDs:

  • Decree No. 2015-796 of July 1, 2015, regarding CeGIDDs, provides that: "The center shall submit, by March 31 of each year, to the director general of the regional health agency and to the Institute for Public Health Surveillance, an activity and performance report covering the previous year and conforming to a template established by order of the Minister of Health."

  • The order of November 23, 2016 specifies in Article 2 that "The CeGIDD activity and performance report, provided for in Article D.3121-25 of the Public Health Code and submitted to the National Public Health Agency, consists of an annual extract of the anonymous individual data collected, in accordance with the template set forth in Annex II and its completion guide in Annex III of this decree."

  • Information Note No. DGS/SP2 of December 2, 2016 provided further details on the practical procedures for the collection and reporting of this data by the CeGIDDs, as well as on the schedule for transmitting this data

Objectives of surveillance

The main objectives of surveillance are:

  • to describe the sociodemographic characteristics of the population visiting the CeGIDDs,

  • to describe the screening activities for HIV, viral hepatitis, and STIs conducted by the CeGIDDs, as well as their other activities (vaccinations, prescription of contraception, TPE, PrEP, etc.),

  • to estimate the prevalence rates of HIV, viral hepatitis, and STIs among the population visiting CeGIDDs (overall and by population subgroup).

The data collected will contribute to the definition and evaluation of sexual health prevention initiatives.

Epidemiological surveillance

Experience with collecting aggregated data from CDAGs shows that this type of data collection is not suitable for conducting epidemiological analyses or addressing questions regarding the target populations, due to its excessively limited scope.

Epidemiological surveillance based on the collection of individual data will allow for the cross-referencing of consultation data (screenings performed and results, prescriptions for treatment, contraception, or vaccination, and any referrals) with various sociodemographic data (such as age, sex, country of birth, health insurance coverage, or socio-professional category), as well as with various risk exposures (such as sexual exposures, blood exposures, or travel to areas of high endemicity). Collecting this data annually will enable the monitoring of trends.

To avoid duplicate data entry by the CeGIDDs, individual data will be extracted by the CeGIDDs from their specialized consultation tracking software, which these facilities must have. The data will then be transmitted in the required format via secure electronic channels to Santé publique France.

The list of variables selected for epidemiological surveillance was defined by a working group composed of several CeGIDD representatives.

This list of variables includes:

  • sociodemographic data: year of birth or age, sex, department of residence, socio-professional category, occupational activity, country of birth, and length of time since arrival in France,

  • data related to the initial consultation: date of consultation, reason for consultation,

  • medical history: previous HIV testing and results, history of chronic hepatitis B or hepatitis C, STIs, vaccination data,

  • risk exposures (sexual, blood-borne, or other exposures),

  • HIV, hepatitis B or C, and STI screenings performed and the results of these screenings,

  • necessary prescriptions and patient referrals.

For this collection, a level of importance was assigned to each variable (priority, lower priority).

The CNIL approved the automated processing of this personal data on December 7, 2017.

Here you will find an information note for individuals consulting CeGIDD

List of variables and coding methods

Transfer of individual data from CeGIDDs to Santé publique France

In accordance with Decree No. 2015-796 of July 1, 2015, the collection of individual data regarding CeGIDD activities has been implemented by Santé publique France.
A secure online system allows facilities to transmit their data in the required format in two ways:

  • CeGIDDs with patient record management software can automatically transfer their individual data using a dedicated "web service." The technical specifications for using this web service are available at the following address. Using this web service requires specific programming of the patient record management software to meet the technical specifications.

  • CeGIDDs that cannot use the web service must submit their individual databases in the required format via the secure platform "partage.santepubliquefrance.fr" by following this link: https://partage.santepubliquefrance.fr

If you have any questions, please send an email to surveillance-cegidd@santepubliquefrance.fr

Regulatory texts

Available at: www.legifrance.gouv.fr

Decree No. 2015-796 of July 1, 2015, regarding free centers for information, screening, and diagnosis of human immunodeficiency virus infections, viral hepatitis, and sexually transmitted infections.

Order of July 1, 2015, regarding free centers for information, screening, and diagnosis of human immunodeficiency virus infections, viral hepatitis, and sexually transmitted infections.

Decree of November 23, 2016 establishing the template for the activity and performance report to be submitted to the Director General of the Regional Health Agency and to the National Public Health Agency by the Free Centers for Information, Screening, and Diagnosis of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infections, Viral Hepatitis, and Sexually Transmitted Infections (CeGIDD).