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Border management in Brazil cuts across state projects, land disputes and traffics repression, in a complex Latin American context. Analyses of the 1,765 km stretch between two triple borders in the Southern Cone show a dissimilar security architecture in Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay, reflecting national perspectives and problems. Despite existing cooperation and coordination agreements, border control is managed without a coherent and shared framework. National mindsets impose barriers to regional interoperability. Also, distinct population and network densities account for multiple border conditions. Since concrete institutional contacts are insufficient, the regional structure is heavily reliant on personal and temporary relations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although AIDS care is generally improving in French Guiana, disparities among regions and certain key populations remain significant. The purpose of this study was to describe the spatial and clinical characteristics of people living with HIV (PLHIV) in remote areas in comparison to those followed in hospitals on the urban coast of French Guiana. The data presented were obtained from outpatient on primary care centers located in rural regions away from the urban coast. Data were compared with that from medical records of PLHIV treated in French Guiana's urban care. The evolution of the annual rate of discovery of HIV seropositivity indicates a lag in remote areas as compared to urban and coastal areas. In recent years, the epidemic appeared as particularly active in rural areas among Brazilian patients. The median age of PLHIV in remote areas was 43.8 years, the sex ratio (M/F) was 0.93. Nearly 37% of PLHIV were discovered with advanced disease (<200 CD4/mm3). The percentage of virological success after six months of HAART was 80% and 88% in remote areas and urban area, respectively. Efforts must be made to control and halt the spread of the HIV epidemic, as these remote sites represent strategic points. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]