Attributes Associated with HIV Risk Behaviors in a Network-Based Study of People Who Inject Drugs.

IF 1 4区 医学 Q4 IMMUNOLOGY
Valerie Ryan, TingFang Lee, Daniele Piovani, Natallia Katenka, Samuel R Friedman, Stefanos Bonovas, Ashley Buchanan, Georgios Nikolopoulos
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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Introduction: People who inject drugs (PWID) are often part of sexual and drug use networks. Engaging in unprotected sex or sharing drug injection equipment, which could occur between connections (ties) in these networks, is known to increase HIV transmission risk. This study aimed to identify attributes associated with network connections between PWID and their contacts during an HIV outbreak in Athens, Greece (2013-2015).

Methods: Data from the Transmission Reduction Intervention Project (TRIP) were used. TRIP was a network-based intervention using information on recent HIV acquisition to reduce onward viral transmission among PWID. Descriptive network and individual-level statistics were calcu-lated. Exponential random graph models (ERGMs) were used to assess associations between in-dividual-level attributes and the likelihood of people having a risk tie (for instance, using drugs together) among PWID.

Results: The network consisted of 356 participants (i.e., known as nodes in network terminology) and 542 connections (i.e., known as edges). TRIP participants had a mean age of 36 (8) years, and most were males (79%). A substantial proportion of participants were homeless (23%). Each participant was connected on average with three others (i.e., known as degree). Degree assorta-tivity was positive, indicating that participants were more likely to connect with people of similar degree. ERGMs showed that TRIP participants were more likely to have a connection with others like them in possibly important ways (e.g., were of the same sex and nationality, and had similar living conditions, such as being homeless).

Discussion: This network analysis, including the use of ERGMs, indicated that individuals in networks of PWID tend to form ties with similar others, beyond what would be expected by chance alone. Limitations of the analysis include potentially reduced generalizability and repre-sentativeness due to the local context of the study, and diminished statistical power. Future re-search should prioritize longitudinal studies among PWID to examine how network connections evolve over time.

Conclusion: The analysis identified factors, such as housing instability, that are important in de-termining the observed network ties among PWID in Athens, Greece. Future development of interventions should consider these factors.

在注射毒品人群的网络研究中与HIV风险行为相关的属性。
简介:注射毒品者往往是性和毒品使用网络的一部分。已知在这些网络的连接(关系)之间可能发生的无保护的性行为或共用药物注射设备会增加艾滋病毒传播风险。本研究旨在确定2013-2015年希腊雅典艾滋病毒爆发期间PWID及其接触者之间网络连接的相关属性。方法:采用减少传播干预项目(TRIP)的数据。TRIP是一项基于网络的干预措施,利用最近感染艾滋病毒的信息来减少PWID之间的病毒传播。计算描述性网络统计和个人水平统计。指数随机图模型(ERGMs)用于评估个体水平属性与PWID中存在风险联系(例如,一起使用药物)的可能性之间的关联。结果:该网络由356个参与者(即网络术语中的节点)和542个连接(即称为边)组成。TRIP参与者的平均年龄为36岁(8)岁,大多数为男性(79%)。相当比例的参与者无家可归(23%)。每个参与者平均与其他三个人联系(即,称为学位)。学位分类是积极的,表明参与者更有可能与相似学位的人联系。ergm显示,旅行计划的参与者更有可能在可能重要的方面与其他与他们相似的人建立联系(例如,相同的性别和国籍,以及相似的生活条件,例如无家可归)。讨论:该网络分析,包括ergm的使用,表明PWID网络中的个体倾向于与相似的其他人形成联系,而不仅仅是偶然的预期。分析的局限性包括由于研究的当地背景而可能降低的概括性和代表性,以及降低的统计能力。未来的研究应优先考虑PWID的纵向研究,以检查网络连接如何随时间演变。结论:分析确定了诸如住房不稳定等因素,这些因素对于确定希腊雅典PWID之间观察到的网络联系非常重要。未来干预措施的发展应考虑到这些因素。
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来源期刊
Current HIV Research
Current HIV Research 医学-病毒学
CiteScore
1.90
自引率
10.00%
发文量
81
审稿时长
6-12 weeks
期刊介绍: Current HIV Research covers all the latest and outstanding developments of HIV research by publishing original research, review articles and guest edited thematic issues. The novel pioneering work in the basic and clinical fields on all areas of HIV research covers: virus replication and gene expression, HIV assembly, virus-cell interaction, viral pathogenesis, epidemiology and transmission, anti-retroviral therapy and adherence, drug discovery, the latest developments in HIV/AIDS vaccines and animal models, mechanisms and interactions with AIDS related diseases, social and public health issues related to HIV disease, and prevention of viral infection. Periodically, the journal invites guest editors to devote an issue on a particular area of HIV research of great interest that increases our understanding of the virus and its complex interaction with the host.
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