title: Birds of a feather: homophily and sexual network structure in sub-Saharan Africa.
abstract: Sexual partner homophily is the tendency of individuals to choose partners similar to themselves. The extent and nature of partner homophily influences the structure of sexual networks and hence the spread of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). In this paper, we compare homophily by ethnicity, age and educational status in representative populations from five African cities in Benin (Cotonou), Cameroon (Yaounde), Kenya (Kisumu), Zambia (Ndola) and South Africa (Carletonville). We find low rates of homophily by age and high rates for educational status throughout the region. There is a large variation in homophily by ethnicity between these five cities, with rates lowest in Ndola. In Carletonville, there is a gendered difference in homophily by ethnicity. We discuss the possible implications these variations in the extent and type of homophily may have for STI transmission in the region.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases and HIV Medicine, University of Cape Town, Anzio Road, Observatory 7700, South Africa.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kenyon
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Colebunders
mesh_terms: D017954:Africa South of the Sahara / Q000208:ethnology; D000367:Age Factors; D001541:Benin; D002163:Cameroon; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007630:Kenya; D008297:Male; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012307:Risk Factors; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D012919:Social Behavior; D012933:Social Identification; D060756:Social Networking; D013019:South Africa; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015024:Zambia
keywords: age; education; ethnicity; homophily; religion; sexual network; sexually transmitted infections