Incorporating geographic settings into a social network analysis of injection drug use and bloodborne pathogen prevalence.
Using social network analysis, we investigated how communal meeting places can link injection drug user (IDU) populations and create opportunities for the transmission of bloodborne pathogens. In our locale, specific hotels played a key role in the injection drug scene. Within this hotel network some IDU injected at only one hotel while others injected at multiple hotels; this latter group potentially acted as spatial bridges linking relatively distinct hotel networks. Pathogen prevalence showed a gradation with the highest prevalence occurring at the centre of the network. Consistent with pathogen prevalence, people most central to the network were more likely to engage in risky injection practices. Incorporating geographic place into analyses involving IDU can contribute to an understanding of pathogen transmission patterns in an area and assist public health efforts to develop targeted intervention programs.
Wylie
John L
JL
Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ont., Canada. jwylie@gov.mb.ca
Shah
Lena
L
Jolly
Ann
A
D000328:Adult; D017848:Blood-Borne Pathogens; D003132:Commerce; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008350:Manitoba / Q000453:epidemiology; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016485:Needle Sharing / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018671:Needle-Exchange Programs; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D019371:Topography, Medical; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*