Understanding socio-sexual networks: critical consideration for HIVST intervention planning among men who have sex with men in Kenya.
Journal
BMC public health
ISSN: 1471-2458
Titre abrégé: BMC Public Health
Pays: England
ID NLM: 100968562
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
21 03 2022
21 03 2022
Historique:
received:
21
09
2021
accepted:
28
02
2022
entrez:
22
3
2022
pubmed:
23
3
2022
medline:
22
4
2022
Statut:
epublish
Résumé
HIV self-testing (HIVST) has emerged as a way of reaching individuals who may be less likely to access testing, including men who have sex with men (MSM). Understanding the social networks of MSM is key to tailoring interventions, such as HIVST, for particular locations. We undertook a socio-sexual network study to characterize and identify patterns of connection among MSM and inform an HIVST intervention in three sites in Kenya. Community researchers in each site selected eight seeds to complete a demographic form and network surveys for 15 each of their sexual and social network members. Seeds recruited three respondents, including two regular service users and one MSM who was "unreached" by the program, who then each identified three respondents, resulting with data on 290 individuals. Findings illustrate the interconnectedness of community-based organization (CBO) members and non-members. In networks where a majority of members had a CBO membership, members had better contacts with programs and were more likely to have accessed health services. Larger networks had more HIV testing and seeds with frequent testing had a positive influence on their network members also being tested frequently. HIVST was tried in very few networks. Almost all network members were willing to use HIVST. Willingness to use HIVST was nearly universal and points to the importance of networks for reaching individuals not enrolled in programs. Network analysis can help in understanding which type of networks had higher testing and how network-based approaches can be useful to promote HIVST in certain contexts.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
HIV self-testing (HIVST) has emerged as a way of reaching individuals who may be less likely to access testing, including men who have sex with men (MSM). Understanding the social networks of MSM is key to tailoring interventions, such as HIVST, for particular locations.
METHODS
We undertook a socio-sexual network study to characterize and identify patterns of connection among MSM and inform an HIVST intervention in three sites in Kenya. Community researchers in each site selected eight seeds to complete a demographic form and network surveys for 15 each of their sexual and social network members. Seeds recruited three respondents, including two regular service users and one MSM who was "unreached" by the program, who then each identified three respondents, resulting with data on 290 individuals.
RESULTS
Findings illustrate the interconnectedness of community-based organization (CBO) members and non-members. In networks where a majority of members had a CBO membership, members had better contacts with programs and were more likely to have accessed health services. Larger networks had more HIV testing and seeds with frequent testing had a positive influence on their network members also being tested frequently. HIVST was tried in very few networks. Almost all network members were willing to use HIVST.
CONCLUSION
Willingness to use HIVST was nearly universal and points to the importance of networks for reaching individuals not enrolled in programs. Network analysis can help in understanding which type of networks had higher testing and how network-based approaches can be useful to promote HIVST in certain contexts.
Identifiants
pubmed: 35313838
doi: 10.1186/s12889-022-12901-x
pii: 10.1186/s12889-022-12901-x
pmc: PMC8939075
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
559Informations de copyright
© 2022. The Author(s).
Références
AIDS. 2018 Jan 28;32(3):371-381
pubmed: 29194120
Front Public Health. 2021 Feb 19;9:594298
pubmed: 33681120
J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2018 Sep 1;79(1):38-45
pubmed: 29771792
Sex Transm Infect. 2017 Aug;93(5):307-308
pubmed: 28389442
Sex Transm Infect. 2010 Dec;86 Suppl 3:iii70-78
pubmed: 21098059
PLoS One. 2018 Aug 27;13(8):e0202521
pubmed: 30148846
PLoS Med. 2011 Oct;8(10):e1001102
pubmed: 21990966
BMC Public Health. 2013 May 17;13:482
pubmed: 23679953
BMC Public Health. 2020 Jan 15;20(1):66
pubmed: 31941479
BMC Res Notes. 2017 Sep 18;10(1):486
pubmed: 28923121
J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2018 Mar 1;77(3):279-287
pubmed: 29210826
Annu Rev Public Health. 1998;19:173-202
pubmed: 9611617
PLoS One. 2020 Jan 23;15(1):e0227741
pubmed: 31971991
J Assoc Nurses AIDS Care. 2018 Jan - Feb;29(1):70-82
pubmed: 28784585
BMC Public Health. 2019 Jul 23;19(1):986
pubmed: 31337368
J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2020 Oct 1;85(2):165-173
pubmed: 32501815
PLoS Med. 2015 Sep 08;12(9):e1001873
pubmed: 26348035
Glob Public Health. 2018 Aug;13(8):960-971
pubmed: 28828943
J Int AIDS Soc. 2017 Feb 8;20(1):21234
pubmed: 28362073
BMC Public Health. 2013 Mar 11;13:220
pubmed: 23497196
Sex Transm Dis. 2018 Jul;45(7):462-468
pubmed: 29465663
PLoS One. 2017 Nov 30;12(11):e0188890
pubmed: 29190791
Annu Rev Public Health. 2007;28:69-93
pubmed: 17222078
Lancet HIV. 2016 Jun;3(6):e266-74
pubmed: 27240789
J Int AIDS Soc. 2018 Jul;21 Suppl 5:e25124
pubmed: 30033680
Curr HIV/AIDS Rep. 2014 Mar;11(1):81-92
pubmed: 24384832
BMC Public Health. 2013 Aug 08;13:735
pubmed: 23924387
PLoS One. 2020 Apr 22;15(4):e0232094
pubmed: 32320457