Women, Social Networks, and HIV

Bibliographic Data

ID6077083
AuthorsWassie Kebede (0000-0001-7944-9078, Addis Ababa University, corresponding author)
Year2012
Volume20
Issue1-2
Pages52-68
Publication date2012-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Community Practice (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1070-5422 • E-ISSN: 1543-3706
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/10705422.2012.648077
OpenAlexW2059324694
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited7

HIV/AIDS has been a growing problem since the 1980s. The purpose of this study is to understand the relationship between social networks of women and their HIV/AIDS status in Debre Zeit, Ethiopia. In-depth interviews were conducted to collect data from 24 women, 14 of whom were HIV positive. A content analysis technique was applied and UCINET software was used to draw the social network sociograms of participants. Results indicate that social networks have a direct influence on the HIV status of participants. Most participants who were HIV positive (12 of 14) abandoned their former network members and established new social networks. Those who were HIV negative maintained the social networks that they established before their HIV test. For some participants, their social networks became a medium for contracting HIV; for others, their social networks helped protect them from possible infection by the virus. The study suggests that social network analysis provides knowledge for social work practice and planning health interventions

Family medicine · Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV · Psychological intervention · Social capital · Social media · Social network (sociolinguistics · Social network analysis · Social science · Social support · Sociology · World Wide Web · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health · Computer Science · HIV, Drug Use, Sexual Risk · HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions · Medicine · Nursing · Psychology · Social Psychology · Gerontology

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