The geography and inter-community configuration of new sexual partnership formation in a rural South African population over fourteen years (2003–2016)

Datos Bibliográficos

ID19592018
AutoresHae‐young Kim (0000-0002-5124-1555, Africa Health Research Institute, autor de correspondencia), Diego F Cuadros (0000-0001-7060-4203, University of Cincinnati), Eduan Wilkinson (0000-0002-2503-9441, University of KwaZulu-Natal), Dennis M Junqueira (0000-0003-1576-484X, University of KwaZulu-Natal), Tulio de Oliveira (0000-0002-3027-5254, University of KwaZulu-Natal), Frank Tanser (0000-0001-9797-0000, Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa)
EditoresBernard Cazelles (0000-0002-7972-361X)
Año2022
Volumen2
Número3
Páginase0000055
Fecha de publicación2022-03-09
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaPLOS Global Public Health (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 2767-3375 • E-ISSN: 2767-3375
EditorialPublic Library of Science (PLoS) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1371/journal.pgph.0000055
PMID36962292
OpenAlexW4220739219
IdiomaEN
Referencias citadas36

Understanding spatial configuration of sexual network structure is critical for effective use of HIV preventative interventions in a community. However, this has never been described at the population level for any setting in sub-Saharan Africa. We constructed the comprehensive geospatial sexual network among new heterosexual partnerships in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. In the Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI)’s population-based surveillance, we identified stable sexual partnerships among individuals (≥15 years) from 2003 to 2016. Sexual partnerships and residency were recorded via household surveys (every 4–6 months). We geolocated residents and migration events and mapped the geospatial linkages of sexual partners at the start of sexual partnerships. In a grid composed by 108 cells (nodes; 3kmx3km per cell) covering the surveillance area (438km 2 ), we calculated the degree of connectivity and centrality of the nodes and examined their association with HIV prevalence and incidence per cell. Of 2401 new sexual partnerships, 21% (n = 495) had both partners living within the surveillance area at the start of sexual partnerships, and 76% (376/495) were linked to the geographic HIV cluster with high HIV prevalence identified in a peri-urban community. Overall, 57 nodes had at least one connection to another node. The nodes in the peri-urban cluster had higher connectivity (mean = 19, range: 9–32), compared to outside the cluster (6, range: 1–16). The node’s degree of connectivity was positively associated with HIV prevalence of the cell (Pearson correlation coefficient = 0.67; p

Cartography · Environmental health · General partnership · Geography · Geospatial analysis · Political science · Population · Psychological intervention · Reproductive health · Socioeconomics · Sociology · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health · Demography · HIV, Drug Use, Sexual Risk · HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions · Medicine · Nursing