Social networks of men who have sex with men: a study of recruitment chains using Respondent Driven Sampling in Salvador, Bahia State, Brazil

Social and sexual contact networks between men who have sex with men (MSM) play an important role in understanding the transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). In Salvador (Bahia State, Brazil), one of the cities in the survey Behavior, Attitudes, Practices, and Prevalen...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Cadernos de saúde pública 2015-11, Vol.31 Suppl 1 (suppl 1), p.170-181
Main Authors: Brignol, Sandra Mara Silva, Dourado, Inês, Amorim, Leila Denise, Miranda, José Garcia Vivas, Kerr, Lígia R F S
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Brazil
Conducta Sexual
Female
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Health Policy & Services
HIV Infections - prevention & control
HIV Infections - transmission
Homosexualidad Masculina
Homosexuality, Male - statistics & numerical data
Humans
Male
Risk Factors
Risk-Taking
Sexual Partners
Sexually Transmitted Diseases - prevention & control
Sexually Transmitted Diseases - transmission
Social Networking
VIH: Red Social
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Summary:Social and sexual contact networks between men who have sex with men (MSM) play an important role in understanding the transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). In Salvador (Bahia State, Brazil), one of the cities in the survey Behavior, Attitudes, Practices, and Prevalence of HIV and Syphilis among Men Who Have Sex with Men in 10 Brazilian Cities, data were collected in 2008/2009 from a sample of 383 MSM using Respondent Driven Sampling (RDS). Network analysis was used to study friendship networks and sexual partner networks. The study also focused on the association between the number of links (degree) and the number of sexual partners, in addition to socio-demographic characteristics. The networks' structure potentially facilitates HIV transmission. However, the same networks can also be used to spread messages on STI/HIV prevention, since the proximity and similarity of MSM in these networks can encourage behavior change and positive attitudes towards prevention.
ISSN:0102-311X
1678-4464
1678-4464
0102-311X
DOI:10.1590/0102-311X00085614