Factors Associated with Geophagy and Knowledge About Its Harmful Effects Among Native Sub-Saharan African, Caribbean and French Guiana HIV Patients Living in Northern France

Geophagy, or the ingestion of earth or clay, is widespread among women of Sub-Saharan African, Caribbean or French Guiana origin. Little is known about this practice among HIV patients native of these countries and who are followed-up in France. The aims of this study were to determine (i) the prevalence and factors associated with geophagy among HIV patients native of these countries, (ii) patients’ knowledge about the harmful effects of geophagy, and (iii) the association of geophagy with iron deficiency, or a history of anemia or constipation. Among the 119 included patients, current geophagy and previous geophagy were present in 11/119 (9%) and 47/119 (40%) patients, respectively. Female gender was the only factor associated with consumption (OR 5.37; 95% CI 2.07–15.92 p = 0.001). Awareness about the risk of iron-deficient anemia was low (24%). Preventive education should be integrated into the care of HIV adults from countries in which geophagy is a culture and widely accepted practice.