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. 2013 Mar;40(3):206-12.
doi: 10.1097/OLQ.0b013e3182840373.

Network analysis among HIV-infected young black men who have sex with men demonstrates high connectedness around few venues

Alexandra M Oster  1 , Cyprian Wejnert, Leandro A Mena, Kim Elmore, Holly Fisher, James D Heffelfinger
Affiliations

Network analysis among HIV-infected young black men who have sex with men demonstrates high connectedness around few venues

Alexandra M Oster et al. Sex Transm Dis. 2013 Mar.

Abstract

Background: Network analysis is useful for understanding sexual transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. We conducted egocentric and affiliation network analysis among HIV-infected young black men who have sex with men (MSM) in the Jackson, Mississippi, area to understand networks and connectedness of this population.

Methods: We interviewed 22 black MSM aged 17 to 25 years diagnosed as having HIV in 2006 to 2008. Participants provided demographic and geographic information about each sex partner during the 12 months before diagnosis and identified venues where they met these partners. We created affiliation network diagrams to understand connectedness of this population and identify venues that linked participants.

Results: The median number of partners reported was 4 (range, 1-16); a total of 97 partners (88 of whom were male) were reported. All but 1 participant were connected through a network of venues where they had met partners during the 12 months before diagnosis. Three venues were named as places for meeting partners by 13 of 22 participants. Participants reported having partners from all regions of Mississippi and 5 other states.

Conclusions: HIV-infected young black MSM in this analysis were linked by a small number of venues. These venues should be targeted for testing and prevention interventions. The pattern of meeting sex partners in a small number of venues suggests densely connected networks that propagate infection. This pattern, in combination with sexual partnerships with persons from outside Jackson, may contribute to spread of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections into or out the Jackson area.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest and Source of Funding: The authors declare no conflicts of interest. Funding was provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Mississippi State Department of Health.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Sexual networks of HIV-infected young black MSM from the Jackson, MS, area. Figure includes participants and sex partners they reported from the 12 months before HIV diagnosis.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Affiliation network diagram showing links between HIV-infected young black MSM in the Jackson, MS, area and public venues where they met sex partners and where they socialized.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Locations of residence of sex partners of HIV-infected young black MSM in the Jackson, MS, area. Mississippi counties are shaded according to the rate of persons living with HIV.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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