Network mixing and network influences most linked to HIV infection and risk behavior in the HIV epidemic among black men who have sex with men

J.A. Schneider, B. Cornwell, D. Ostrow, S. Michaels, P. Schumm, E.O. Laumann and S. Friedman

American Journal of Public Health, 2013, vol. 103, issue 1, e28-e36

Abstract: Objectives. We evaluated network mixing and influences by network members upon Black men who have sex with men. Methods. We conducted separate social and sexual network mixing analyses to determine the degree of mixing on risk behaviors (e.g., unprotected anal intercourse [UAI]). We used logistic regression to assess the association between a network "enabler" (would not disapprove of the respondent's behavior) and respondent behavior. Results. Across the sample (n = 1187) network mixing on risk behaviors was more assortative (like with like) in the sexual network (rsex, 0.37-0.54) than in the social network (rsocial, 0.21-0.24). Minimal assortativity (heterogeneous mixing) among HIV-infected men on UAI was evident. Black men who have sex with men reporting a social network enabler were more likely to practice UAI (adjusted odds ratio = 4.06; 95% confidence interval = 1.64, 10.05) a finding not observed in the sexual network (adjusted odds ratio = 1.31; 95% confidence interval = 0.44, 3.91). Conclusions. Different mixing on risk behavior was evident with more disassortativity among social than sexual networks. Enabling effects of social network members may affect risky behavior. Attention to of high-risk populations' social networks is needed for effective and sustained HIV prevention. Copyright © 2012 by the American Public Health Association®.

Keywords: adult; African American; article; disease transmission; ethnology; health survey; high risk behavior; homosexuality; human; Human immunodeficiency virus; Human immunodeficiency virus infection; male; middle aged; psychological aspect; sexual behavior; social network; statistical model, Adult; African Americans; Health Surveys; HIV; HIV Infections; Homosexuality, Male; Humans; Logistic Models; Male; Middle Aged; Risk-Taking; Sexual Behavior; Social Networking; Young Adult (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2012.301003_2

DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2012.301003

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