Geospatial methods for identification of core groups for HIV/AIDS.
OBJECTIVE
Disease transmission dynamics among members of a sexual network's core group make the group an ideal target for prevention for positives. Identifying the geographic territory of an HIV/AIDS core group is complicated by the numerous factors that may spatially structure cases including alcohol availability. We employ spatial analytic methods in an attempt to identify the geographic distribution of the core HIV/AIDS group.


METHODS
Five year HIV/AIDS detection rates were analyzed for each HIV/AIDS risk category (i.e., MSM, IDU, HRH) at the census tract level (n = 164) in New Orleans using spatial analytic techniques in multivariate models.


RESULTS
MSM was the most common risk category for newly detected HIV cases. Both MSM and IDU cases appeared to decline or enter an endemic phase. Each risk category exhibited unique spatial structure. Among IDUs and HRHs nearly all the spatial structure was explained in terms of the independent variables. However, among MSMs residual spatial structure remained after controlling for independent variables.


CONCLUSIONS
Residual spatial structure in the MSM HIV/AIDS detection rates after controlling for social structure could be explained by the presence of core group members. The study's limitations are noted.
Scribner
Richard A
RA
Epidemiology Program, LSU School of Public Health, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112, USA. rscrib@lsuhsc.edu
Johnson
Sandy A
SA
Cohen
Deborah A
DA
Robinson
William
W
Farley
Thomas A
TA
Gruenewald
Paul
P
D003710:Demography; D005843:Geography; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D008145:Louisiana / Q000453:epidemiology; D012309:Risk-Taking; D014505:Urban Population