Sexual network structure among a household sample of urban African American adolescents in an endemic sexually transmitted infection setting.

摘要: Background: Sexual networks play an important role in the transmission of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV. However, because challenges collecting network data, relatively few empirical reports exist about structure sexual general population samples. This study describes a household sample urban black adolescents living area with moderate endemic STI rates. Methods: Random digit dialing was used to recruit from Bayview-Hunter's Point neighborhood San Francisco. Participants' recent partners were recruited through snowball sampling. Biologic samples tested for current infection gonorrhea or chlamydia. Social analysis methods describe characteristics resulting networks. Results: One hundred sixty-six active participants connected 388 members 159 separate components. Despite high prevalence bacterial STIs (13%), components small (3.5 people on average, half involved only 2 people), linear acyclic. Females less central their than males by local measures but just as when overall taken into account. Conclusions: Our results confirm, new setting, previous observations that structures necessary chlamydia are sparsely connected.