Understanding the Hierarchical Relationships in Female Sex Workers’ Social Networks Based on Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice

Xianlei Dong, Mengge Sun, Jingguo Wang, Zhihan Yang and Beibei Hu
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Xianlei Dong: School of Business, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250358, China
Mengge Sun: National Science Library, Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing 100190, China
Jingguo Wang: Information Systems and Operation Management, College of Business, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, USA
Zhihan Yang: Statistics with Data Science, School of Mathematics, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9YL, UK
Beibei Hu: School of Business, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250358, China

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 20, 1-22

Abstract: Female sex workers (FSWs) represent a high-risk population for HIV infection and transmission. In general, their fellow FSWs (peers) also play a role in their level of susceptibility to HIV/AIDS. This paper draws from interview data of 93 FSWs to construct a multi-layer FSW social network model based on their knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP). Statistical analyses of the correlation among the three dimensions of KAP as well as their social interactions indicated that FSWs had basic knowledge of HIV/AIDS prevention but demonstrated little enthusiasm in acquiring relevant information. Their knowledge, attitude, and practice were highly positively correlated. Their attitude was more likely to be negatively influenced by their companions, while their practice was more likely to be positively affected. Besides, FSWs exhibited high homophily in KAP with their neighbors. Thus, during HIV/AIDS interventions, FSWs should receive individualized education based on their specific KAP. Considering the high level of homophily among FSWs, their propensity to be positive or negative in their KAP are significantly influenced by their companions. Making full use of peer education and social interaction-based interventions may help prevent and control the spread of HIV/AIDS.

Keywords: hierarchical social network; knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP); HIV/AIDS; individual character (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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