Social and also sex-related networks: their role in the spread of HIV\/AIDS amongst young gay guys
This write-up checks out just how networks of social and also sexual intercourses impact high-risk sexual actions as well as HIV seroprevalence amongst young gay men. Social media can transmit info and also cultural norms regarding more secure sex, while networks of sex-related partners direct the danger of direct exposure to HIV infection. These 2 network effects might assist to explain several of the actions and seroconversion differentials in the gay community. A variety of current researches have revealed greater prices of dangerous sex among younger gay males. In the Longitudinal AIDS Impact Task, for example, younger gay guys (18-24) report risky receptive rectal sex at prices dual that for any type of various other age group (30% vs. 14-16%). One feasible explanation is that younger males have actually viewed less close friends and also associates agreement HIV or AIDS, and are likewise much less cautious. We examine this hypothesis by contrasting the individual networks of more youthful and older gay men to see whether those that exercise more secure sex have a lot more direct exposure to persons with HIV or AIDS. The outcomes give only weak support for the theory that personal direct exposure to the results of HIV as well as AIDS rises adherence to safer sex practices. Seroprevalence patterns among young men might be the result of their sex-related networks, with those selecting older companions more likely to be revealed to HIV infection. We analyze this theory by comparing the age structure of the unsafe sexual partner network for seropositive and also seronegative boys. The results strongly sustain the theory that more youthful gay males with older companions are the leading side of the epidemic in their cohort.
