title: Social Network Influence on HIV Testing Among Urban Men in Tanzania.
abstract: Men in sub-Saharan Africa have low HIV testing rates. Social networks exert an important influence on men's HIV-related behavior. We examined associations between network factors and HIV testing among men in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Data are from the baseline assessment of an HIV prevention trial with 48 primarily male networks. Among 923 sexually active men, 52 % had ever tested for HIV. In a random effects logistic regression model, men in the network core were 1.50 times more likely (p < .05) to test than those in the periphery. Percentage of women in the network was associated with men's increased HIV testing (AOR 4.24, p < .05). Perception of network HIV stigma was negatively associated with HIV testing (AOR 0.92, p < .01). Thinking at least one close friend tested for HIV was associated with increased testing (AOR 2.66, p < .001). Social network interventions are a promising approach for scaling up men's HIV testing.
authors: School of International Service, American University, 4400 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC, 20016-8071, USA. yamanis@american.edu.
authors: Thespina J
authors: TJ
authors: Yamanis
authors: Department of Economics, American University, Washington, DC, USA.
authors: Ervin
authors: E
authors: Dervisevic
authors: Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
authors: Marta
authors: M
authors: Mulawa
authors: Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA.
authors: Donaldson F
authors: DF
authors: Conserve
authors: Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
authors: Clare
authors: C
authors: Barrington
authors: Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
authors: Lusajo J
authors: LJ
authors: Kajula
authors: Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
authors: Suzanne
authors: S
authors: Maman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010465:Perception; D057545:Social Stigma; D012944:Social Support; D013636:Tanzania; D014505:Urban Population
chemical_list: D029721:Drosophila Proteins; C518413:loj protein, Drosophila
keywords: HIV testing; Men; Social networks; Sub-Saharan Africa