title: The relationship between social network factors, HIV, and Hepatitis C among injection drug users in Chennai, India.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to examine whether social network factors predict HIV and Hepatitis C (HCV) serostatus after controlling for individual-level factors at baseline among a cohort of male injection drug users in Chennai, India.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample, which was recruited through street outreach, consists of 1078 males who reported having injected drugs in the last 6 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The participants reported 3936 social support and risk network members. HIV and HCV positive serostatus were negatively associated with network member providing emotional support, and positively associated with network member providing material support. In addition, HCV positivity was associated with network member being an active drug user known for more than 10 years and network member being male kin networks, even after adjusting for individual demographic factors and risk behaviors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that social network factors are significantly linked to HIV and HCV status among IDUs in Southern India and highlight the mixed effects of social capital on health. Future HIV/HCV prevention efforts should incorporate IDU peers to alter drug network injection risk norms. For drug users who have minimal network support, support groups and other informal and formal support mechanisms may be need to help them with health care and psychological support needs for dealing with HIV/HCV.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. clatkin@jhsph.edu
authors.forename: Carl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Latkin
authors.forename: Cui
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Aylur K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Srikrishnan
authors.forename: Suniti
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Solomon
authors.forename: Shruti H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Mehta
authors.forename: David D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Celentano
authors.forename: Muniratnam Suresh
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Knowlton
authors.forename: Sunil Suhas
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Solomon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D006678:HIV; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D016174:Hepacivirus; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007267:Injections; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016485:Needle Sharing / Q000009:adverse effects; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012944:Social Support; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult