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. 2016 Nov;20(11):2782-2789.
doi: 10.1007/s10461-016-1408-8.

Roles and Functions of Social Networks Among Men Who Use Drugs in ART Initiation in Vietnam

Carl A Latkin  1 , M Kumi Smith  2 , Tran Viet Ha  3 , Tran Thi Mo  3 , Carla Zelaya  2 , Teerada Sripaipan  3 , Nguyen Le Minh  4 , Vu Minh Quan  2 , Vivian F Go  3
Affiliations

Roles and Functions of Social Networks Among Men Who Use Drugs in ART Initiation in Vietnam

Carl A Latkin et al. AIDS Behav. 2016 Nov.

Abstract

Support from social network members may help to facilitate access to HIV medical care, especially in low resourced communities. As part of a randomized clinical trial of a community-level stigma and risk reduction intervention in Thai Nguyen, Vietnam for people living with HIV who inject drugs (PWID), 341 participants were administered a baseline social network inventory. Network predictors of antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation at the 6-month follow-up were assessed. The social networks of PWID were sparse. Few participants who reported injectors in their networks also reported family members, whereas those who did not have injectors were more likely to report family members and network members providing emotional support and medical advice. In multivariate models, having at least one network member who provided medical advice predicted ART initiation at 6 months (OR 2.74, CI 1.20-6.28). These results suggest the importance of functional social support and network support mobilization for ART initiation among PWID.

Keywords: Antiretroviral therapy; People who inject drugs; Social networks; Social support; Vietnam.

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Conflict of interest statement

None of the authors reported a conflict of interest.

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