Association between ego-centric social network and HIV status of MSM young students

Abstract

Objective To identify the characteristics of social network and the association between ego-centric network and HIV status among young MSM Chinese students. Methods The cross-sectional study was conducted in Chongqing, Tianjin, Harbin and Xi’an city from April to December 2017 and from March to May 2018. A mixed recruitment method of snowball sampling and RDS approach was used to recruit participants who reported information on social network and received HIV test. The Multiple Regression Analysis method was used to for the analysis of association between ego-centric social network and HIV status of men who have sex with men (MSM) among young students. Results The sample included 547 participants who nominated 1 088 social partners in total with average age of 13 to 60 years old. The MSM with different sexual orientation from their social members ( aOR = 0.38), embedded in a large network ( aOR = 0.63), with a high individual betweenness centrality ( aOR = 0.27) were at lower risk of HIV-positive status; while MSM who differed greatly in education level with their social members ( aOR = 1.60), existed in sexual networks aOR = 1.41), existed in the “risky networks” ( aOR = 1.88), with high network density ( aOR = 1.91) and a high individual degree ( aOR = 4.10) had higher risk of HIV-positive status ( P <0.05). Conclusion MSM with great difference in education level from social members, existed in sexual networks, with a large network density and a high degree were exposed to higher risk of HIV-positive status. 【摘要】 目的 分析青年学生男男同性性行为人群 (men who have sex with men, MSM)个体中心社会网络与HIV感染状 况的关系’为特殊人群HIV防控政策研究提供依据。 方法 于2017年4一12月及2018年3—5月, 采用滚雪球法和同伴 推动法, 对重庆市、天津市、哈尔滨市、西安市青年学生MSM进行社会网络问卷调查和HIV检测。采用多因素Logistic回 归模型分析个体中心社会网络特征与HIV感染状况的关联。 结果 共追踪到青年学生MSM有547名, 提名1 088名网络成员, 年龄分布在13~60岁。与社会网络成员性取向不同 ( aOR = 0.38)、所在网络规模较大 ( aOR = 0.63)、个体中间性中心 度较高 ( aOR = 0.27)的青年MSM的HIV感染状况为阳性的可能性更低；与社会网络成员受教育程度相差较大 ( aOR = 1.60)、存在于性伴网络 ( aOR =1.41)、存在于危险性行为社会网络 ( aOR =1.88)、所在网络密度较大 ( aOR =1.91)、个体联结 度数较高 ( aOR = 4.10) 的 MSM 的HIV感染状况为阳性的可能性较高 ( P 值均<0.05)。 结论 青年学生 MSM 及其社会网 络成员的HIV感染状况与其所在的社会网络特征有关, 与网络成员受教育程度差异较大、存在于性伴网络、所属网络密度 较大、个体联结度数高均是HIV感染状况为阳性的危险因素。