Sexual and social networks, venue attendance, and HIV risk among young men who have sex with men

Abstract

ABSTRACT Objective: This study used a Social network analysis (SNA) approach to describe HIV transmission and venue affiliations among social and sexual networks of young men who have sex with men (YMSM) in Houston, TX. Methods: A total of 34 YMSM indices aged 18–23 years and 23 of their network members were interviewed about their social and sexual networks and venues at which they met and spent time. Results: Participants reported information on 220 friends (mean age = 25.3 years) and 112 sexual partners (mean age = 26.3 years). Participants spent time with friends and sexual partners at similar venues but relied more heavily on social media and dating applications to meet sexual partners. Participants lived in zip codes consistent with high concentrations of HIV positivity. Popularly frequented clubs/gay bars were often 10–20 miles away, also in zip codes with high densities of seropositivity. Conclusion: Both friendship and sexual networks are large, diffuse, and not limited by geography. Participants came from areas with high rates of HIV/AIDS. The venues at which participants recruited sexual partners may present increased opportunities for HIV transmission. HIV prevention interventions should focus on the heightened risk of unknown HIV serostatus.