Drug users' willingness to encourage social, sexual, and drug network members to receive an HIV vaccine: a social network analysis.
This study examined feasibility of peer-based promotion of HIV vaccination and dyadic correlates to vaccine encouragement in risk- and non-risk networks of drug users (n = 433) in the US. Data were collected on HIV vaccine attitudes, risk compensation intentions, likelihood of encouraging vaccination, and recent (past 6 months) risk (i.e. involving sex and/or injecting drugs) and non-risk (i.e. involving co-usage of noninjected drugs and/or social support) relationships. Willingness to encourage HIV vaccination was reported in 521 and 555 risk- and non-risk relationships, respectively. However, 37 % expressed hesitancy, typically due to fear of side effects or social concerns. Encouragement was often motivated by perceived HIV risk, though 9 % were motivated by risk compensation intentions. In non-risk partnerships, encouragement was associated with drug co-usage, and in risk relationships, with perceived vaccine acceptability and encouragement by the partner. Network-based HIV vaccine promotion may be a successful strategy, but risk compensation intentions should be explored.
Department of Behavioral Science, Center on Drug and Alcohol Research, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, 333 Waller Avenue, Lexington, KY, 40504, USA, april.young@uky.edu.
A M
AM
Young
R J
RJ
DiClemente
D S
DS
Halgin
C E
CE
Sterk
J R
JR
Havens
D016915:AIDS Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D055030:Drug Users / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D007629:Kentucky; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010379:Peer Group; D012309:Risk-Taking; D060756:Social Networking; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D016915:AIDS Vaccines