Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the hypothesis that human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission may be facilitated or obstructed by network structure, incorporating a measure of risk that combines true risk and surrogates. Persons at presumed high risk for HIV were enrolled in long-term follow-up studies of urban and rural networks in Atlanta, Georgia, and Flagstaff, Arizona. We focused on respondents who were also contacts to evaluate information on both sides of the observed dyads and constructed a Risk Indicator, based on a four-digit binary number, that permitted assessment and visualization of the overall risk environment. We constructed graphs that provided visualization of the level of risk, the types of relationships, and the actual network. Although some of the findings conform to the hypotheses relating network structure to transmission, there were several anomalies. In Atlanta, HIV prevalence was most strongly related to men with a male sexual orientation, despite the widespread use of injectable drugs. In Flagstaff, an area of very low prevalence and no transmission, the risk environment appeared more intense, and the frequency of microstructures was as great or greater than representative areas in Atlanta. The network hypothesis is not yet sufficiently developed to account for empirical observations that demonstrate the presence of intense, interactive networks in the absence of transmission of HIV.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 419-432 |
| Number of pages | 14 |
| Journal | Journal of Urban Health |
| Volume | 78 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 2001 |
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Keywords
- HIV
- Risks
- Social networks
- Transmission dynamics
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Cite this
The risk environment for HIV transmission : Results from the Atlanta and Flagstaff network studies. / Rothenberg, R.; Baldwin, J.; Trotter II, Robert T; Muth, S.
In: Journal of Urban Health, Vol. 78, No. 3, 2001, p. 419-432.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - The risk environment for HIV transmission
T2 - Results from the Atlanta and Flagstaff network studies
AU - Rothenberg, R.
AU - Baldwin, J.
AU - Trotter II, Robert T
AU - Muth, S.
PY - 2001
Y1 - 2001
N2 - The purpose of this study was to investigate the hypothesis that human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission may be facilitated or obstructed by network structure, incorporating a measure of risk that combines true risk and surrogates. Persons at presumed high risk for HIV were enrolled in long-term follow-up studies of urban and rural networks in Atlanta, Georgia, and Flagstaff, Arizona. We focused on respondents who were also contacts to evaluate information on both sides of the observed dyads and constructed a Risk Indicator, based on a four-digit binary number, that permitted assessment and visualization of the overall risk environment. We constructed graphs that provided visualization of the level of risk, the types of relationships, and the actual network. Although some of the findings conform to the hypotheses relating network structure to transmission, there were several anomalies. In Atlanta, HIV prevalence was most strongly related to men with a male sexual orientation, despite the widespread use of injectable drugs. In Flagstaff, an area of very low prevalence and no transmission, the risk environment appeared more intense, and the frequency of microstructures was as great or greater than representative areas in Atlanta. The network hypothesis is not yet sufficiently developed to account for empirical observations that demonstrate the presence of intense, interactive networks in the absence of transmission of HIV.
AB - The purpose of this study was to investigate the hypothesis that human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission may be facilitated or obstructed by network structure, incorporating a measure of risk that combines true risk and surrogates. Persons at presumed high risk for HIV were enrolled in long-term follow-up studies of urban and rural networks in Atlanta, Georgia, and Flagstaff, Arizona. We focused on respondents who were also contacts to evaluate information on both sides of the observed dyads and constructed a Risk Indicator, based on a four-digit binary number, that permitted assessment and visualization of the overall risk environment. We constructed graphs that provided visualization of the level of risk, the types of relationships, and the actual network. Although some of the findings conform to the hypotheses relating network structure to transmission, there were several anomalies. In Atlanta, HIV prevalence was most strongly related to men with a male sexual orientation, despite the widespread use of injectable drugs. In Flagstaff, an area of very low prevalence and no transmission, the risk environment appeared more intense, and the frequency of microstructures was as great or greater than representative areas in Atlanta. The network hypothesis is not yet sufficiently developed to account for empirical observations that demonstrate the presence of intense, interactive networks in the absence of transmission of HIV.
KW - HIV
KW - Risks
KW - Social networks
KW - Transmission dynamics
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0034849171&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0034849171&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1093/jurban/78.3.419
DO - 10.1093/jurban/78.3.419
M3 - Article
C2 - 11564846
AN - SCOPUS:0034849171
VL - 78
SP - 419
EP - 432
JO - Journal of Urban Health
JF - Journal of Urban Health
SN - 1099-3460
IS - 3
ER -