title: Network mixing and network influences most linked to HIV infection and risk behavior in the HIV epidemic among black men who have sex with men.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We evaluated network mixing and influences by network members upon Black men who have sex with men.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted separate social and sexual network mixing analyses to determine the degree of mixing on risk behaviors (e.g., unprotected anal intercourse [UAI]). We used logistic regression to assess the association between a network "enabler" (would not disapprove of the respondent's behavior) and respondent behavior.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Across the sample (n = 1187) network mixing on risk behaviors was more assortative (like with like) in the sexual network (r(sex), 0.37-0.54) than in the social network (r(social), 0.21-0.24). Minimal assortativity (heterogeneous mixing) among HIV-infected men on UAI was evident. Black men who have sex with men reporting a social network enabler were more likely to practice UAI (adjusted odds ratio = 4.06; 95% confidence interval = 1.64, 10.05) a finding not observed in the sexual network (adjusted odds ratio = 1.31; 95% confidence interval = 0.44, 3.91).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Different mixing on risk behavior was evident with more disassortativity among social than sexual networks. Enabling effects of social network members may affect risky behavior. Attention to of high-risk populations' social networks is needed for effective and sustained HIV prevention.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA. jschnei1@medicine.bsd.uchicago.edu
authors.forename: John A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cornwell
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ostrow
authors.forename: Stuart
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Michaels
authors.forename: Phil
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schumm
authors.forename: Edward O
authors.initials: EO
authors.lastname: Laumann
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Friedman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D006678:HIV; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission*; D006306:Health Surveys; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000208:ethnology*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D060756:Social Networking; D055815:Young Adult