ABSTRACT
Objective To study the characteristics of social relations and relative factors among MSM in Guangzhou.Methods Data was collected through a cross-sectional study in Guangzhou from November 2016 to May 2017.Sample size was estimated and participants were recruited from the voluntary counseling and testing services (VCT) which were set for MSM population,by nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Social ties and demographic characteristics of the respondents and their sexual partners were analyzed through both Chi square test and generalized estimating equations (GEE).Results A total of 1 073 MSM,together with their nominated 4 301 partners were successfully recruited and involved in this study.Age (OR=1.2,P=0.01) and non-internet based intercourse (OR=1.65,P＜0.01) were easy to form close relation with strong ties.Compared with MSM traditional venues (chess and cards room,tea room bathhouse,club),general public venue (bars,KTV,parks,shopping malls,schools,restaurants) (OR=1.46-3.12,P＜0.01) showed close relation with strong ties.Our finding showed that MSM at the age of 18-25 preferred to build weak ties with the older MSM,while the 26-30-year-olds and 31-40-year-olds prefer to establish weak ties with younger partners but the 41-50-year-olds preferred to develop weak ties with one that were ten years younger.Conclusions Clusters were noticed in the MSM populations when grouping and making friends with ones at different age.Characteristics regarding the relationship between sexual partners in choosing venues and ways of dating were different.Targeted intervention programs need to be explored innovatively.
ABSTRACT
Objective@#This study aimed to analyze the association between the characteristics of egocentric network and HIV prevalence among men who have sex with men (MSM) through social network analysis.@*Methods@#The study was conducted in Guangzhou city from November 2016 to June 2017 using convenient sampling method. Participants were recruited from 13 voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) locations. Data were collected by using nomination generation and nomination interpretation methods. Questionnaire includes two parts, the first part about the social tie, and the second one about social demography and behavioral characteristics of respondents and their nominees. The multivariate logistic regression was applied to quantify the association.@*Results@#8.67%(93/1 073) HIV antibody positive MSM had been detected in 1 073 respondents who nominated 4 301 partners in total. Compared to egocentric sexual network with a size of 1-2, the size of sexual network larger than 3 (OR=1.68, 95%CI: 1.07-2.65) were associated with HIV infection. Compared to egocentric risk sexual network with a size of 1-2, the size of risk sexual networks larger than 3 (OR=1.87, 95%CI: 1.06-3.31) were associated with HIV infection. There were no significant association between marital similarity of respondents and their nominees, the type of the relationship of sexual partners and HIV prevalence (P>0.05).@*Conclusion@#The composition of social network in MSM is related to their susceptibility of HIV infection. MSM population with a large sexual network is more susceptible to HIV infection.
ABSTRACT
Social network plays an important role in the prevention and recovery of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).Researches of egocentric network focus on the protective effect of large size and high diversity of social support network on PTSD,while researches about global network focus on social integration. Egocentric network and global network reduce the negative emotional reactions or physiologic and behavioral responses to stress in different ways,the former buffers stress response through social support,the latter em-phasizes the importance of interpersonal emotional contagion and social resource change. Future studies are required to explore the relationship between social structure or the social network changes and PTSD by using longitudinal method,in the meantime intervention studies about improving social network to reduce PTSD are also worth doing.
ABSTRACT
Objective To study the characteristics of social relations and relative factors among MSM in Guangzhou.Methods Data was collected through a cross-sectional study in Guangzhou from November 2016 to May 2017.Sample size was estimated and participants were recruited from the voluntary counseling and testing services (VCT) which were set for MSM population,by nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).Social ties and demographic characteristics of the respondents and their sexual partners were analyzed through both Chi square test and generalized estimating equations (GEE).Results A total of 1 073 MSM,together with their nominated 4 301 partners were successfully recruited and involved in this study.Age (OR=1.2,P=0.01) and non-internet based intercourse (OR=1.65,P＜0.01) were easy to form close relation with strong ties.Compared with MSM traditional venues (chess and cards room,tea room bathhouse,club),general public venue (bars,KTV,parks,shopping malls,schools,restaurants) (OR=1.46-3.12,P＜0.01) showed close relation with strong ties.Our finding showed that MSM at the age of 18-25 preferred to build weak ties with the older MSM,while the 26-30-year-olds and 31-40-year-olds prefer to establish weak ties with younger partners but the 41-50-year-olds preferred to develop weak ties with one that were ten years younger.Conclusions Clusters were noticed in the MSM populations when grouping and making friends with ones at different age.Characteristics regarding the relationship between sexual partners in choosing venues and ways of dating were different.Targeted intervention programs need to be explored innovatively.