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Bellerose M, Zhu L, Hagan LM, Thompson WW, Randall LM, Malyuta Y, Salomon JA, Linas BP. A review of network simulation models of hepatitis C virus and HIV among people who inject drugs. THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY 2021; 88:102580. [PMID: 31740175 PMCID: PMC8729792 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2019.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2019] [Revised: 09/17/2019] [Accepted: 10/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Network modelling is a valuable tool for simulating hepatitis C virus (HCV) and HIV transmission among people who inject drugs (PWID) and assessing the potential impact of treatment and harm-reduction interventions. In this paper, we review literature on network simulation models, highlighting key structural considerations and questions that network models are well suited to address. We describe five approaches (Erdös-Rényi, Stochastic Block, Watts-Strogatz, Barabási-Albert, and Exponential Random Graph Model) used to model partnership formation with emphasis on the strengths of each approach in simulating different features of real-world PWID networks. We also review two important structural considerations when designing or interpreting results from a network simulation study: (1) dynamic vs. static network and (2) injection only vs. both injection and sexual networks. Dynamic network simulations allow partnerships to evolve and disintegrate over time, capturing corresponding shifts in individual and population-level risk behaviour; however, their high level of complexity and reliance on difficult-to-observe data has driven others to develop static network models. Incorporating both sexual and injection partnerships increases model complexity and data demands, but more accurately represents HIV transmission between PWID and their sexual partners who may not also use drugs. Network models add the greatest value when used to investigate how leveraging network structure can maximize the effectiveness of health interventions and optimize investments. For example, network models have shown that features of a given network and epidemic influence whether the greatest community benefit would be achieved by allocating hepatitis C or HIV treatment randomly, versus to those with the most partners. They have also demonstrated the potential for syringe services and "buddy sharing" programs to reduce disease transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meghan Bellerose
- Prevention Policy Modeling Lab, Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, 90 Smith Street, Boston, MA 02120, United States.
| | - Lin Zhu
- Prevention Policy Modeling Lab, Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, 90 Smith Street, Boston, MA 02120, United States
| | - Liesl M Hagan
- Division of Viral Hepatitis, U.S. Centers for Disease Control, United States
| | - William W Thompson
- Division of Viral Hepatitis, U.S. Centers for Disease Control, United States
| | | | - Yelena Malyuta
- Prevention Policy Modeling Lab, Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, 90 Smith Street, Boston, MA 02120, United States
| | - Joshua A Salomon
- Prevention Policy Modeling Lab, Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, 90 Smith Street, Boston, MA 02120, United States; Center for Health Policy / Center for Primary Care and Outcomes Research, Stanford University, United States
| | - Benjamin P Linas
- Boston Medical Center, Boston University School of Public Health, United States
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Rosenblatt SF, Smith JA, Gauthier GR, Hébert-Dufresne L. Immunization strategies in networks with missing data. PLoS Comput Biol 2020; 16:e1007897. [PMID: 32645081 PMCID: PMC7386582 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1007897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2019] [Revised: 07/28/2020] [Accepted: 04/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Network-based intervention strategies can be effective and cost-efficient approaches to curtailing harmful contagions in myriad settings. As studied, these strategies are often impractical to implement, as they typically assume complete knowledge of the network structure, which is unusual in practice. In this paper, we investigate how different immunization strategies perform under realistic conditions-where the strategies are informed by partially-observed network data. Our results suggest that global immunization strategies, like degree immunization, are optimal in most cases; the exception is at very high levels of missing data, where stochastic strategies, like acquaintance immunization, begin to outstrip them in minimizing outbreaks. Stochastic strategies are more robust in some cases due to the different ways in which they can be affected by missing data. In fact, one of our proposed variants of acquaintance immunization leverages a logistically-realistic ongoing survey-intervention process as a form of targeted data-recovery to improve with increasing levels of missing data. These results support the effectiveness of targeted immunization as a general practice. They also highlight the risks of considering networks as idealized mathematical objects: overestimating the accuracy of network data and foregoing the rewards of additional inquiry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel F. Rosenblatt
- Department of Computer Science, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, United States of America
- Vermont Complex Systems Center, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, United States of America
| | - Jeffrey A. Smith
- Department of Sociology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States of America
| | - G. Robin Gauthier
- Department of Sociology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States of America
| | - Laurent Hébert-Dufresne
- Department of Computer Science, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, United States of America
- Vermont Complex Systems Center, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, United States of America
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Stevens ER, Nucifora KA, Hagan H, Jordan AE, Uyei J, Khan B, Dombrowski K, des Jarlais D, Braithwaite RS. Cost-effectiveness of Direct Antiviral Agents for Hepatitis C Virus Infection and a Combined Intervention of Syringe Access and Medication-assisted Therapy for Opioid Use Disorders in an Injection Drug Use Population. Clin Infect Dis 2020; 70:2652-2662. [PMID: 31400755 PMCID: PMC7286369 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciz726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2019] [Accepted: 07/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND There are too many plausible permutations and scale-up scenarios of combination hepatitis C virus (HCV) interventions for exhaustive testing in experimental trials. Therefore, we used a computer simulation to project the health and economic impacts of alternative combination intervention scenarios for people who inject drugs (PWID), focusing on direct antiviral agents (DAA) and medication-assisted treatment combined with syringe access programs (MAT+). METHODS We performed an allocative efficiency study, using a mathematical model to simulate the progression of HCV in PWID and its related consequences. We combined 2 previously validated simulations to estimate the cost-effectiveness of intervention strategies that included a range of coverage levels. Analyses were performed from a health-sector and societal perspective, with a 15-year time horizon and a discount rate of 3%. RESULTS From a health-sector perspective (excluding criminal justice system-related costs), 4 potential strategies fell on the cost-efficiency frontier. At 20% coverage, DAAs had an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of $27 251/quality-adjusted life-year (QALY). Combinations of DAA at 20% with MAT+ at 20%, 40%, and 80% coverage had ICERs of $165 985/QALY, $325 860/QALY, and $399 189/QALY, respectively. When analyzed from a societal perspective (including criminal justice system-related costs), DAA at 20% with MAT+ at 80% was the most effective intervention and was cost saving. While DAA at 20% with MAT+ at 80% was more expensive (eg, less cost saving) than MAT+ at 80% alone without DAA, it offered a favorable value compared to MAT+ at 80% alone ($23 932/QALY). CONCLUSIONS When considering health-sector costs alone, DAA alone was the most cost-effective intervention. However, with criminal justice system-related costs, DAA and MAT+ implemented together became the most cost-effective intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth R Stevens
- Department of Population Health, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
- New York University College of Global Public Health, New York, New York, USA
| | - Kimberly A Nucifora
- Department of Population Health, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Holly Hagan
- New York University College of Global Public Health, New York, New York, USA
- Center for Drug Use and Human Immunodeficiency Virus Research, New York University College of Global Public Health, New York, New York, USA
| | - Ashly E Jordan
- Center for Drug Use and Human Immunodeficiency Virus Research, New York University College of Global Public Health, New York, New York, USA
- School of Public Health and Health Policy, City University of New York, New York, New York, USA
| | - Jennifer Uyei
- Department of Population Health, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Bilal Khan
- Department of Sociology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
| | - Kirk Dombrowski
- Department of Sociology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
| | - Don des Jarlais
- New York University College of Global Public Health, New York, New York, USA
| | - R Scott Braithwaite
- Department of Population Health, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
- Center for Drug Use and Human Immunodeficiency Virus Research, New York University College of Global Public Health, New York, New York, USA
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Kostaki EG, Frampton D, Paraskevis D, Pantavou K, Ferns B, Raffle J, Grant P, Kozlakidis Z, Hadjikou A, Pavlitina E, Williams LD, Hatzakis A, Friedman SR, Nastouli E, Nikolopoulos GK. Near Full-length Genomic Sequencing and Molecular Analysis of HIV-Infected Individuals in a Network-based Intervention (TRIP) in Athens, Greece: Evidence that Transmissions Occur More Frequently from those with High HIV-RNA. Curr HIV Res 2019; 16:345-353. [PMID: 30706819 PMCID: PMC6446520 DOI: 10.2174/1570162x17666190130120757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2018] [Revised: 01/21/2019] [Accepted: 01/27/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Background: TRIP (Transmission Reduction Intervention Project) was a network-based, contact tracing approach to locate and link to care, mostly people who inject drugs (PWID) with recent HIV infection. Objective: We investigated whether sequences from HIV-infected participants with high viral load cluster together more frequently than what is expected by chance. Methods: Paired end reads were generated for 104 samples using Illumina MiSeq next-generation se-quencing. Results: 63 sequences belonged to previously identified local transmission networks of PWID (LTNs) of an HIV outbreak in Athens, Greece. For two HIV-RNA cut-offs (105 and 106 IU/mL), HIV transmissions were more likely between PWID with similar levels of HIV-RNA (p<0.001). 10 of the 14 sequences (71.4%) from PWID with HIV-RNA >106 IU/mL were clustered in 5 pairs. For 4 of these clusters (80%), there was in each one of them at least one sequence from a recently HIV-infected PWID. Conclusion: We showed that transmissions are more likely among PWID with high viremia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evangelia-Georgia Kostaki
- Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Daniel Frampton
- Department of Infection and Immunity, UCL, London, United Kingdom
| | - Dimitrios Paraskevis
- Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | | | - Bridget Ferns
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, UCLH/UCL, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jade Raffle
- Department of Infection and Immunity, UCL, London, United Kingdom
| | - Paul Grant
- Department of Clinical Virology, UCLH, London, United Kingdom
| | - Zisis Kozlakidis
- Division of Infection and Immunity, Faculty of Medical Sciences, UCL and Farr Institute of Health Informatics Research, London, United Kingdom
| | - Andria Hadjikou
- Medical School, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus.,European University Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Eirini Pavlitina
- Transmission Reduction Intervention Project, Athens site, Athens, Greece
| | - Leslie D Williams
- National Development and Research Institutes, New York, United States
| | - Angelos Hatzakis
- Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Samuel R Friedman
- National Development and Research Institutes, New York, United States
| | - Eleni Nastouli
- NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, UCLH/UCL, London, United Kingdom.,Department of Population, Policy and Practice, UCL GOS Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
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West BS. Social Networks of Substance-Using Populations: Key Issues and Promising New Approaches for HIV. Curr HIV/AIDS Rep 2019; 16:48-56. [PMID: 30659477 PMCID: PMC6420834 DOI: 10.1007/s11904-019-00425-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW This paper presents recent literature on substance using networks and HIV, highlighting renewed and emerging themes in the field. The goal is to draw attention to research that holds considerable promise for advancing our understanding of the role of networks in shaping behaviors, while also providing critical information for the development of interventions, programs, and policies to reduce HIV and other drug-related harms. RECENT FINDINGS Recent research advances our understanding of networks and HIV, including among understudied populations, and provides new insight into how risk environments shape the networks and health of substance-using populations. In particular, the integration of network approaches with molecular epidemiology, research on space and place, and intervention methods provides exciting new avenues of investigation. Continued advances in network research are critical to supporting the health and rights of substance-using populations and ensuring the development of high-impact HIV programs and policies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brooke S West
- School of Social Work, Columbia University, 1255 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY, 10027, USA.
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health in the School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA.
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Khan B, Duncan I, Saad M, Schaefer D, Jordan A, Smith D, Neaigus A, Des Jarlais D, Hagan H, Dombrowski K. Combination interventions for Hepatitis C and Cirrhosis reduction among people who inject drugs: An agent-based, networked population simulation experiment. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0206356. [PMID: 30496209 PMCID: PMC6264850 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0206356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2018] [Accepted: 10/11/2018] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is endemic in people who inject drugs (PWID), with prevalence estimates above 60% for PWID in the United States. Previous modeling studies suggest that direct acting antiviral (DAA) treatment can lower overall prevalence in this population, but treatment is often delayed until the onset of advanced liver disease (fibrosis stage 3 or later) due to cost. Lower cost interventions featuring syringe access (SA) and medically assisted treatment (MAT) have shown mixed results in lowering HCV rates below current levels. However. little is known about the potential cumulative effects of combining DAA and MAT treatment. While simulation experiments can reveal likely long-term effects, most prior simulations have been performed on closed populations of model agents—a scenario quite different from the open, mobile populations known to most health agencies. This paper uses data from the Centers for Disease Control’s National HIV Behavioral Surveillance project, IDU round 3, collected in New York City in 2012 to parameterize simulations of open populations. To test the effect of combining DAA treatment with SA/MAT participation, multiple, scaled implementations of the two intervention strategies were simulated. Our results show that, in an open population, SA/MAT by itself has only small effects on HCV prevalence, while DAA treatment by itself can lower both HCV and HCV-related advanced liver disease prevalence. More importantly, the simulation experiments suggest that combinations of the two strategies can, when implemented together and at sufficient levels, dramatically reduce HCV incidence. We conclude that adopting SA/MAT implementations alongside DAA interventions can play a critical role in reducing the long-term consequences of ongoing HCV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bilal Khan
- Department of Sociology, University of Nebraska, Lincoln NE, United States of America
| | - Ian Duncan
- Department of Sociology, University of Nebraska, Lincoln NE, United States of America
| | - Mohamad Saad
- Department of Sociology, University of Nebraska, Lincoln NE, United States of America
| | - Daniel Schaefer
- Department of Sociology, University of Nebraska, Lincoln NE, United States of America
| | - Ashly Jordan
- Rory Meyers College of Nursing, New York University, New York, NY, United States of America
- Center for Drug Use and HIV Research, New York University, New York, NY, United States of America
| | - Daniel Smith
- Rory Meyers College of Nursing, New York University, New York, NY, United States of America
| | - Alan Neaigus
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States of America
| | - Don Des Jarlais
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States of America
| | - Holly Hagan
- Rory Meyers College of Nursing, New York University, New York, NY, United States of America
- Center for Drug Use and HIV Research, New York University, New York, NY, United States of America
| | - Kirk Dombrowski
- Department of Sociology, University of Nebraska, Lincoln NE, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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7
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Williams LD, Kostaki EG, Pavlitina E, Paraskevis D, Hatzakis A, Schneider J, Smyrnov P, Hadjikou A, Nikolopoulos GK, Psichogiou M, Friedman SR. Pockets of HIV Non-infection Within Highly-Infected Risk Networks in Athens, Greece. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:1825. [PMID: 30197629 PMCID: PMC6117409 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.01825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2018] [Accepted: 07/23/2018] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
As part of a network study of HIV infection among people who inject drugs (PWID) and their contacts, we discovered a connected subcomponent of 29 uninfected PWID. In the context of a just-declining large epidemic outbreak, this raised a question: What explains the existence of large pockets of uninfected people? Possible explanations include “firewall effects” (Friedman et al., 2000; Dombrowski et al., 2017) wherein the only HIV+ people that the uninfected take risks with have low viral loads; “bottleneck effects” wherein few network paths into the pocket of non-infection exist; low levels of risk behavior; and an impending outbreak. We considered each of these. Participants provided information on their enhanced sexual and injection networks and assisted us in recruiting network members. The largest connected component had 241 members. Data on risk behaviors in the last 6 months were collected at the individual level. Recent infection was determined by LAg (SediaTM Biosciences Corporation), data on recent seronegative tests, and viral load. HIV RNA was quantified using Artus HI Virus-1 RG RT-PCR (Qiagen). The 29 members of the connected subcomponent of uninfected participants were connected (network distance = 1) to 17 recently-infected and 24 long-term infected participants. Fourteen (48%) of these 29 uninfected were classified as “extremely high risk” because they self-reported syringe sharing and had at least one injection partner with viral load >100,000 copies/mL who also reported syringe sharing. Seventeen of the 29 uninfected were re-interviewed after 6 months, but none had seroconverted. These findings show the power of network research in discovering infection patterns that standard individual-level studies cannot. Theoretical development and exploratory network research studies may be needed to understand these findings and deepen our understanding of how HIV does and does not spread through communities. Finally, the methods developed here provide practical tools to study “bottleneck” and “firewall” network hypotheses in practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leslie D Williams
- Institute for Infectious Disease Research, National Development and Research Institutes, New York, NY, United States
| | - Evangelia-Georgia Kostaki
- Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | | | - Dimitrios Paraskevis
- Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Angelos Hatzakis
- Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - John Schneider
- Departments of Medicine and Public Health Sciences, University of Chicago Medical Center, Center for AIDS Elimination, Chicago, IL, United States
| | | | - Andria Hadjikou
- Medical School, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus and European University Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | | | - Mina Psichogiou
- First Department of Internal Medicine, Laikon General Hospital, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Samuel R Friedman
- Institute for Infectious Disease Research, National Development and Research Institutes, New York, NY, United States
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Habecker P, Abadie R, Welch-Lazoritz M, Reyes JC, Khan B, Dombrowski K. Injection Partners, HCV, and HIV Status among Rural Persons Who Inject Drugs in Puerto Rico. Subst Use Misuse 2018; 53:1128-1138. [PMID: 29166134 PMCID: PMC5935544 DOI: 10.1080/10826084.2017.1400562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The prevalence of hepatitis C (HCV) and HIV among persons who inject drugs (PWID) and the ability of these diseases to spread through injection networks are well documented in urban areas. However, less is known about injection behaviors in rural areas. OBJECTIVES This study focuses on the association between the number of self-reported injection partners with the PWID's self-reported HCV and HIV status. Injection networks provide paths for infection and information to flow, and are important to consider when developing prevention and intervention strategies. METHODS Respondent driven sampling was used to conduct 315 interviews with PWID in rural Puerto Rico during 2015. Negative binomial regression was used to test for associations between the number of self-reported injection partners and self-reported HCV and HIV statuses. Multinomial logistic regression was used to test for associations with the participant's self-reported HCV and HIV statuses. RESULTS Self-reported HCV status is significantly associated with injection risk network size. Injection partner networks of self-reported HCV- respondents are half what is reported by those with a positive or unknown status. Self-reported HIV statuses are not associated with different numbers of injection partners. CONCLUSIONS Smaller injection networks among those who self-report a HCV- status suggests that those who believe their status to be negative may take protective action by reducing their injection network compared to those have a self-reported HCV+ or an unknown status. Although the cross-sectional design of the study makes it difficult verify, such behavior has implications for prevention programs attempting to prevent HCV transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Habecker
- Department of Sociology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
| | - Roberto Abadie
- Department of Sociology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
| | | | - Juan Carlos Reyes
- School of Medicine, University of Puerto Rico, San Jaun, Puerto Rico
| | - Bilal Khan
- Department of Sociology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
| | - Kirk Dombrowski
- Department of Sociology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
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9
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Friedman SR, Williams L, Young AM, Teubl J, Paraskevis D, Kostaki E, Latkin C, German D, Mateu-Gelabert P, Guarino H, Vasylyeva TI, Skaathun B, Schneider J, Korobchuk A, Smyrnov P, Nikolopoulos G. Network Research Experiences in New York and Eastern Europe: Lessons for the Southern US in Understanding HIV Transmission Dynamics. Curr HIV/AIDS Rep 2018; 15:283-292. [PMID: 29905915 PMCID: PMC6010197 DOI: 10.1007/s11904-018-0403-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE This paper presents an overview of different kinds of risk and social network methods and the kinds of research questions each can address. RECENT FINDINGS It also reviews what network research has discovered about how network characteristics are associated with HIV and other infections, risk behaviors, preventive behaviors, and care, and discusses some ways in which network-based public health interventions have been conducted. Based on this, risk and social network research and interventions seem both feasible and valuable for addressing the many public health and social problems raised by the widespread use of opioids in the US South.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel R Friedman
- National Development and Research Institutes, Inc., New York, NY, USA.
| | - Leslie Williams
- National Development and Research Institutes, Inc., New York, NY, USA
| | - April M Young
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Kentucky College of Public Health, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Jennifer Teubl
- National Development and Research Institutes, Inc., New York, NY, USA
| | - Dimitrios Paraskevis
- Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Evangelia Kostaki
- Department of Hygiene, Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Carl Latkin
- Department of Health, Behavior, and Society, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Danielle German
- Department of Health, Behavior, and Society, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | - Honoria Guarino
- National Development and Research Institutes, Inc., New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Britt Skaathun
- Division of Global Public Health, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - John Schneider
- Department of Medicine and Center for HIV Elimination, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
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10
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Abadie R, Gelpi-Acosta C, Davila C, Rivera A, Welch-Lazoritz M, Dombrowski K. "It Ruined My Life": The effects of the War on Drugs on people who inject drugs (PWID) in rural Puerto Rico. THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY 2018; 51:121-127. [PMID: 28716395 PMCID: PMC5851589 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2017.06.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2017] [Revised: 04/12/2017] [Accepted: 06/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The War on Drugs has raised the incarceration rates of racial minorities for non-violent drug-related crimes, profoundly stigmatized drug users, and redirected resources from drug prevention and treatment to militarizing federal and local law enforcement. Yet, while some states consider shifting their punitive approach to drug use, to one based on drug treatment and rehabilitation, nothing suggests that these policy shifts are being replicated in Puerto Rico. METHODS This paper utilizes data from 360 PWID residing in four rural towns in the mountainous area of central Puerto Rico. We initially recruited 315 PWID using respondent-driven sampling (RDS) and collected data about risk practices and conducted HIV and HCV testing. During a second phase, we conducted 34 micro-ethnographic assays, in which we randomly recruited 34 participants from the first phase and included their ego networks in this phase. Our ethnographic inquiry produced significant data regarding the effects of the war on drugs on the local drug trade, drug availability, and injectors' social networks. RESULTS Findings suggest that repressive policing has been ineffective in preventing drug distribution and use among those in our study. This type of law enforcement approach has resulted in the disproportionate incarceration of poor drug users in rural Puerto Rico, and mainly for nonviolent drug-related crimes. In addition, incarceration exposes PWID to a form of a cruel and unusual punishment: having to quit heroin "cold turkey" while the prison environment also represents a HIV/HCV risk. In turn, the war on drugs not only diverts resources from treatment but also shapes treatment ideologies, punishing non-compliant patients. CONCLUSION Shifting the emphasis from repression to treatment and rehabilitation is likely to have a positive impact on the health and overall quality of life of PWID and their communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Abadie
- Department of Sociology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 206 Benton Hall, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA; Department of Social Science, LaGuardia Community College (CUNY), 31-10 Thompson Ave, Long Island City, NY 11101, USA.
| | - C Gelpi-Acosta
- Department of Sociology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 206 Benton Hall, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA
| | - C Davila
- Department of Sociology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 206 Benton Hall, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA
| | - A Rivera
- Department of Sociology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 206 Benton Hall, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA
| | - M Welch-Lazoritz
- Department of Sociology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 206 Benton Hall, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA
| | - K Dombrowski
- Department of Sociology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 206 Benton Hall, Lincoln, NE 68588, USA
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Bernard CL, Brandeau ML. Structural Sensitivity in HIV Modeling: A Case Study of Vaccination. Infect Dis Model 2017; 2:399-411. [PMID: 29532039 PMCID: PMC5844493 DOI: 10.1016/j.idm.2017.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2017] [Accepted: 08/23/2017] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Structural assumptions in infectious disease models, such as the choice of network or compartmental model type or the inclusion of different types of heterogeneity across individuals, might affect model predictions as much as or more than the choice of input parameters. We explore the potential implications of structural assumptions on HIV model predictions and policy conclusions. We illustrate the value of inference robustness assessment through a case study of the effects of a hypothetical HIV vaccine in multiple population subgroups over eight related transmission models, which we sequentially modify to vary over two dimensions: parameter complexity (e.g., the inclusion of age and HCV comorbidity) and contact/simulation complexity (e.g., aggregated compartmental vs. individual/disaggregated compartmental vs. network models). We find that estimates of HIV incidence reductions from network models and individual compartmental models vary, but those differences are overwhelmed by the differences in HIV incidence between such models and the aggregated compartmental models (which aggregate groups of individuals into compartments). Complexities such as age structure appear to buffer the effects of aggregation and increase the threshold of net vaccine effectiveness at which aggregated models begin to overestimate reductions. The differences introduced by parameter complexity in estimated incidence reduction also translate into substantial differences in cost-effectiveness estimates. Parameter complexity does not appear to play a consistent role in differentiating the projections of network models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cora L. Bernard
- Department of Management Science and Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
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Duncan I, Habecker P, Abadie R, Curtis R, Khan B, Dombrowski K. Needle acquisition patterns, network risk and social capital among rural PWID in Puerto Rico. Harm Reduct J 2017; 14:69. [PMID: 29047371 PMCID: PMC5648484 DOI: 10.1186/s12954-017-0195-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2017] [Accepted: 10/02/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND People who inject drugs (PWID) take on significant risks of contracting blood-borne infection, including injecting with a large number of partners and acquiring needles from unsafe sources. When combined, risk of infection can be magnified. METHODS Using a sample of PWID in rural Puerto Rico, we model the relationship between a subject's number of injection partners and the likelihood of having used an unsafe source of injection syringes. Data collection with 315 current injectors identified six sources of needles. RESULTS Of the six possible sources, only acquisition from a seller (paid or free), or using syringes found on the street, was significantly related to number of partners. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that sources of syringes do serve to multiply risk of infection caused by multi-partner injection concurrency. They also suggest that prior research on distinct forms of social capital among PWID may need to be rethought.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian Duncan
- University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska USA
| | | | | | - Ric Curtis
- John Jay College of Criminal Justice, New York, USA
| | - Bilal Khan
- University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska USA
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