title: Social networks of men who have sex with men: a study of recruitment chains using Respondent Driven Sampling in Salvador, Bahia State, Brazil.
abstract: Social and sexual contact networks between men who have sex with men (MSM) play an important role in understanding the transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). In Salvador (Bahia State, Brazil), one of the cities in the survey Behavior, Attitudes, Practices, and Prevalence of HIV and Syphilis among Men Who Have Sex with Men in 10 Brazilian Cities, data were collected in 2008/2009 from a sample of 383 MSM using Respondent Driven Sampling (RDS). Network analysis was used to study friendship networks and sexual partner networks. The study also focused on the association between the number of links (degree) and the number of sexual partners, in addition to socio-demographic characteristics. The networks' structure potentially facilitates HIV transmission. However, the same networks can also be used to spread messages on STI/HIV prevention, since the proximity and similarity of MSM in these networks can encourage behavior change and positive attitudes towards prevention.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Saúde Coletiva, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Brasil.
authors.forename: Sandra Mara Silva
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Brignol
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Saúde Coletiva, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Brasil.
authors.forename: Inês
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Dourado
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Matemática, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Brasil.
authors.forename: Leila Denise
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Amorim
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Física, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, Brasil.
authors.forename: José Garcia Vivas
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Miranda
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal da Ceará, Fortaleza, Brasil.
authors.forename: Lígia R F S
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Kerr
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission*; D060756:Social Networking