Network structure and the risk for HIV transmission among rural drug users

A. M. Young; A. B. Jonas; U. L. Mullins; D. S. Halgin; J. R. Havens

doi:10.1007/s10461-012-0371-2

Network structure and the risk for HIV transmission among rural drug users

A. M. Young, A. B. Jonas, U. L. Mullins, D. S. Halgin, J. R. Havens

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

66 Scopus citations

Abstract

Research suggests that structural properties of drug users' social networks can have substantial effects on HIV risk. The purpose of this study was to investigate if the structural properties of Appalachian drug users' risk networks could lend insight into the potential for HIV transmission in this population. Data from 503 drug users recruited through respondent-driven sampling were used to construct a sociometric risk network. Network ties represented relationships in which partners had engaged in unprotected sex and/or shared injection equipment. Compared to 1,000 randomly generated networks, the observed network was found to have a larger main component and exhibit more cohesiveness and centralization than would be expected at random. Thus, the risk network structure in this sample has many structural characteristics shown to be facilitative of HIV transmission. This underscores the importance of primary prevention in this population and prompts further investigation into the epidemiology of HIV in the region.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	2341-2351
Number of pages	11
Journal	AIDS and Behavior
Volume	17
Issue number	7
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-012-0371-2
State	Published - Sep 2013

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Acknowledgments This study was funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (R01DA024598).

Funding

Acknowledgments This study was funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (R01DA024598).

Funders

Funder number

Author National Institute on Drug Abuse DA031791 Mark J Ferris National Institute on Drug Abuse DA006634 Mark J Ferris National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism AA026117 Mark J Ferris National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism AA028162 Elizabeth G Pitts National Institute of General Medical Sciences GM102773 Elizabeth G Pitts Peter McManus Charitable Trust Mark J Ferris National Institute on Drug Abuse

R01DA024598

Keywords

HIV
Injection drug users
Rural
Social network analysis
Sociometric

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Social Psychology
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Infectious Diseases

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1007/s10461-012-0371-2

Cite this

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title = "Network structure and the risk for HIV transmission among rural drug users",

abstract = "Research suggests that structural properties of drug users' social networks can have substantial effects on HIV risk. The purpose of this study was to investigate if the structural properties of Appalachian drug users' risk networks could lend insight into the potential for HIV transmission in this population. Data from 503 drug users recruited through respondent-driven sampling were used to construct a sociometric risk network. Network ties represented relationships in which partners had engaged in unprotected sex and/or shared injection equipment. Compared to 1,000 randomly generated networks, the observed network was found to have a larger main component and exhibit more cohesiveness and centralization than would be expected at random. Thus, the risk network structure in this sample has many structural characteristics shown to be facilitative of HIV transmission. This underscores the importance of primary prevention in this population and prompts further investigation into the epidemiology of HIV in the region.",

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note = "Funding Information: Acknowledgments This study was funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (R01DA024598).",

year = "2013",

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doi = "10.1007/s10461-012-0371-2",

language = "English",

volume = "17",

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AU - Young, A. M.

AU - Jonas, A. B.

AU - Mullins, U. L.

AU - Halgin, D. S.

AU - Havens, J. R.

N1 - Funding Information: Acknowledgments This study was funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (R01DA024598).

PY - 2013/9

Y1 - 2013/9

N2 - Research suggests that structural properties of drug users' social networks can have substantial effects on HIV risk. The purpose of this study was to investigate if the structural properties of Appalachian drug users' risk networks could lend insight into the potential for HIV transmission in this population. Data from 503 drug users recruited through respondent-driven sampling were used to construct a sociometric risk network. Network ties represented relationships in which partners had engaged in unprotected sex and/or shared injection equipment. Compared to 1,000 randomly generated networks, the observed network was found to have a larger main component and exhibit more cohesiveness and centralization than would be expected at random. Thus, the risk network structure in this sample has many structural characteristics shown to be facilitative of HIV transmission. This underscores the importance of primary prevention in this population and prompts further investigation into the epidemiology of HIV in the region.

AB - Research suggests that structural properties of drug users' social networks can have substantial effects on HIV risk. The purpose of this study was to investigate if the structural properties of Appalachian drug users' risk networks could lend insight into the potential for HIV transmission in this population. Data from 503 drug users recruited through respondent-driven sampling were used to construct a sociometric risk network. Network ties represented relationships in which partners had engaged in unprotected sex and/or shared injection equipment. Compared to 1,000 randomly generated networks, the observed network was found to have a larger main component and exhibit more cohesiveness and centralization than would be expected at random. Thus, the risk network structure in this sample has many structural characteristics shown to be facilitative of HIV transmission. This underscores the importance of primary prevention in this population and prompts further investigation into the epidemiology of HIV in the region.

KW - HIV

KW - Injection drug users

KW - Rural

KW - Social network analysis

KW - Sociometric

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JO - AIDS and Behavior

JF - AIDS and Behavior

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ER -

Network structure and the risk for HIV transmission among rural drug users

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funding

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

Access to Document

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