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Luke DA, Powell BJ, Paniagua-Avila A. Bridges and Mechanisms: Integrating Systems Science Thinking into Implementation Research. Annu Rev Public Health 2024; 45:7-25. [PMID: 38100647 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-publhealth-060922-040205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
We present a detailed argument for how to integrate, or bridge, systems science thinking and methods with implementation science. We start by showing how fundamental systems science principles of structure, dynamics, information, and utility are relevant for implementation science. Then we examine the need for implementation science to develop and apply richer theories of complex systems. This can be accomplished by emphasizing a causal mechanisms approach. Identifying causal mechanisms focuses on the "cogs and gears" of public health, clinical, and organizational interventions. A mechanisms approach focuses on how a specific strategy will produce the implementation outcome. We show how connecting systems science to implementation science opens new opportunities for examining and addressing social determinants of health and conducting equitable and ethical implementation research. Finally, we present case studies illustrating successful applications of systems science within implementation science in community health policy, tobacco control, health care access, and breast cancer screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Douglas A Luke
- Center for Public Health Systems Science, Brown School, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA;
| | - Byron J Powell
- Center for Mental Health Services Research, Brown School; Center for Dissemination & Implementation, Institute for Public Health; and Division of Infectious Diseases, John T. Milliken Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
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Evans MV, Ramiadantsoa T, Kauffman K, Moody J, Nunn CL, Rabezara JY, Raharimalala P, Randriamoria TM, Soarimalala V, Titcomb G, Garchitorena A, Roche B. Sociodemographic Variables Can Guide Prioritized Testing Strategies for Epidemic Control in Resource-Limited Contexts. J Infect Dis 2023; 228:1189-1197. [PMID: 36961853 PMCID: PMC11007394 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiad076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Revised: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Targeted surveillance allows public health authorities to implement testing and isolation strategies when diagnostic resources are limited, and can be implemented via the consideration of social network topologies. However, it remains unclear how to implement such surveillance and control when network data are unavailable. METHODS We evaluated the ability of sociodemographic proxies of degree centrality to guide prioritized testing of infected individuals compared to known degree centrality. Proxies were estimated via readily available sociodemographic variables (age, gender, marital status, educational attainment, household size). We simulated severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) epidemics via a susceptible-exposed-infected-recovered individual-based model on 2 contact networks from rural Madagascar to test applicability of these findings to low-resource contexts. RESULTS Targeted testing using sociodemographic proxies performed similarly to targeted testing using known degree centralities. At low testing capacity, using proxies reduced infection burden by 22%-33% while using 20% fewer tests, compared to random testing. By comparison, using known degree centrality reduced the infection burden by 31%-44% while using 26%-29% fewer tests. CONCLUSIONS We demonstrate that incorporating social network information into epidemic control strategies is an effective countermeasure to low testing capacity and can be implemented via sociodemographic proxies when social network data are unavailable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle V Evans
- Maladies Infectieuses et Vecteurs : Écologie, Génétique, Évolution et Contrôle, Université Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Tanjona Ramiadantsoa
- Maladies Infectieuses et Vecteurs : Écologie, Génétique, Évolution et Contrôle, Université Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Kayla Kauffman
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Duke Global Health Institute, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - James Moody
- Department of Sociology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Charles L Nunn
- Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Duke Global Health Institute, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jean Yves Rabezara
- Department of Science and Technology, University of Antsiranana, Antsiranana, Madagascar
| | | | - Toky M Randriamoria
- Association Vahatra, Antananarivo, Madagascar
- Zoologie et Biodiversité Animale, Domaine Sciences et Technologies, Université d’Antananarivo, Antananarivo, Madagascar
| | - Voahangy Soarimalala
- Association Vahatra, Antananarivo, Madagascar
- Institut des Sciences et Techniques de l’Environnement, Université de Fianarantsoa, Fianarantsoa, Madagascar
| | - Georgia Titcomb
- Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA
- Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA
- Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Conservation Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
| | - Andres Garchitorena
- Maladies Infectieuses et Vecteurs : Écologie, Génétique, Évolution et Contrôle, Université Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, Montpellier, France
- Pivot, Ifanadiana, Madagascar
| | - Benjamin Roche
- Maladies Infectieuses et Vecteurs : Écologie, Génétique, Évolution et Contrôle, Université Montpellier, CNRS, IRD, Montpellier, France
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Health behavior homophily can mitigate the spread of infectious diseases in small-world networks. Soc Sci Med 2022; 312:115350. [PMID: 36183539 DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.115350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Revised: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Research has repeatedly shown that the spread of infectious diseases is influenced by properties of our social networks. Small-world like structures with densely connected clusters bridged by only a few connections, for example, are not only known to diminish disease spread, but also to increase the chance for a disease to spread to any part of the network. Clusters composed of individuals who show similar reactions to avoid infections (health behavior homophily), however, might change the effect of such clusters on disease spread. To study the combined effect of health behavior homophily and small-world network properties on disease spread, we extend a previously developed ego-centered network formation model and agent-based simulation. Based on more than 80,000 simulated epidemics on generated networks varying in clustering and homophily, as well as diseases varying in severity and infectivity, we predict that the existence of health behavior homophilous clusters reduce the number of infections, lower peak size, and flatten the curve of active cases. That is because agents perceiving higher risks of infections can protect their cluster from infections comparatively quickly by severing only a few bridging ties. A comparison with epidemics in static network structures shows that the incapability to act upon risk perceptions and the low connectivity between clusters in static networks lead to diametrically opposed effects with comparatively large epidemics and prolonged epidemics. These finding suggest that micro-level behavioral adaptation to health risks mitigate macro-level disease spread to an extent that is not captured by static network models of disease spread. Furthermore, this mechanism can be used to design information campaigns targeting proxies for groups with lower risk perception.
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Zhang D, Li H, Zheng C, Han J, Li H, Liu Y, Wang X, Jia L, Li S, Li T, Zhang B, Chen L, Yang Z, Gan Y, Zhong Y, Li J, Zhao J, Li L. Analysis of HIV-1 molecular transmission network reveals the prevalence characteristics of three main HIV-1 subtypes in Shenzhen, China. J Infect 2022; 85:e190-e192. [PMID: 36031153 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinf.2022.08.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Dong Zhang
- Department of Virology, State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Hanping Li
- Department of Virology, State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Chenli Zheng
- Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China
| | - Jingwan Han
- Department of Virology, State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Hao Li
- Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China
| | - Yongjian Liu
- Department of Virology, State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Xiaolin Wang
- Department of Virology, State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Lei Jia
- Department of Virology, State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Siqi Li
- Department of Virology, State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Tianyi Li
- Department of Virology, State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Bohan Zhang
- Department of Virology, State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Lin Chen
- Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China
| | - Zhengrong Yang
- Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China
| | - Yongxia Gan
- Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China
| | - Yifan Zhong
- Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China
| | - Jingyun Li
- Department of Virology, State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing 100071, China.
| | - Jin Zhao
- Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518055, China.
| | - Lin Li
- Department of Virology, State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing 100071, China.
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Wozniak TM, Cuningham W, Ledingham K, McCulloch K. Contribution of socio-economic factors in the spread of antimicrobial resistant infections in Australian primary healthcare clinics. J Glob Antimicrob Resist 2022; 30:294-301. [PMID: 35700913 DOI: 10.1016/j.jgar.2022.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Revised: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To effectively contain antimicrobial resistant (AMR) infections, we must better understand the social determinates of health that contribute to transmission and spread of infections. METHODS We used clinical data from patients attending primary healthcare clinics across three jurisdictions of Australia (2007-2019). Escherichia coli (E. coli), Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) isolates and their corresponding antibiotic susceptibilities were included. Using multivariable logistic regression analysis, we assessed associations between AMR prevalence and indices of social disadvantage as reported by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (i.e. remoteness, socio-economic disadvantage and average person per household). RESULTS This study reports 12 years of longitudinal data from 43,448 isolates from a high-burden low resource setting in Australia. Access to health and social services (as measured by remoteness index) was a risk factor for increased prevalence of third-generation cephalosporin-resistant (3GC) E. coli (odds ratio 5.05; 95% confidence interval 3.19, 8.04) and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) (odds ratio 5.72; 95% confidence interval 5.02, 6.54). We did not find a positive correlation of AMR and socio-economic disadvantage or average person per household indices. CONCLUSIONS Remoteness is a risk factor for increased prevalence of 3GC-resistant E.coli and MRSA. We demonstrate that traditional disease surveillance systems can be repurposed to capture the broader social drivers of AMR. Access to pathogen-specific and social data early and within the local regional context will fill a significant gap in disease prevention and the global spread of AMR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa M Wozniak
- Australian e-Health Research Centre CSIRO, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northern Territory.
| | - Will Cuningham
- Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northern Territory
| | - Katie Ledingham
- Department of Science, Innovation, Technology and Entrepreneurship, University of Exeter Business School
| | - Karen McCulloch
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Melbourne Medical School, University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity; WHO Collaborating Centre for Viral Hepatitis, Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory, Royal Melbourne Hospital at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity
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Chapman A, Verdery AM, Moody J. Analytic Advances in Social Networks and Health in the Twenty-First Century. JOURNAL OF HEALTH AND SOCIAL BEHAVIOR 2022; 63:191-209. [PMID: 35392693 PMCID: PMC9149133 DOI: 10.1177/00221465221086532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
The study of social networks is increasingly central to health research for medical sociologists and scholars in other fields. Here, we review the innovations in theory, substance, data collection, and methodology that have propelled the study of social networks and health from a niche subfield to the center of larger sociological and scientific debates. In particular, we contextualize the broader history of network analysis and its connections to health research, concentrating on work beginning in the late 1990s, much of it in this journal. Using bibliometric and network visualization approaches, we examine the subfield's evolution over this period in terms of topics, trends, key debates, and core insights. We conclude by reflecting on persistent challenges and areas of innovation shaping the study of social networks and health and its intersection with medical sociology in the coming years.
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Steingrimsson JA, Fulton J, Howison M, Novitsky V, Gillani FS, Bertrand T, Civitarese A, Howe K, Ronquillo G, Lafazia B, Parillo Z, Marak T, Chan PA, Bhattarai L, Dunn C, Bandy U, Scott NA, Hogan JW, Kantor R. Beyond HIV outbreaks: protocol, rationale and implementation of a prospective study quantifying the benefit of incorporating viral sequence clustering analysis into routine public health interventions. BMJ Open 2022; 12:e060184. [PMID: 35450916 PMCID: PMC9024226 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-060184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION HIV continues to have great impact on millions of lives. Novel methods are needed to disrupt HIV transmission networks. In the USA, public health departments routinely conduct contact tracing and partner services and interview newly HIV-diagnosed index cases to obtain information on social networks and guide prevention interventions. Sequence clustering methods able to infer HIV networks have been used to investigate and halt outbreaks. Incorporation of such methods into routine, not only outbreak-driven, contact tracing and partner services holds promise for further disruption of HIV transmissions. METHODS AND ANALYSIS Building on a strong academic-public health collaboration in Rhode Island, we designed and have implemented a state-wide prospective study to evaluate an intervention that incorporates real-time HIV molecular clustering information with routine contact tracing and partner services. We present the rationale and study design of our approach to integrate sequence clustering methods into routine public health interventions as well as related important ethical considerations. This prospective study addresses key questions about the benefit of incorporating a clustering analysis triggered intervention into the routine workflow of public health departments, going beyond outbreak-only circumstances. By developing an intervention triggered by, and incorporating information from, viral sequence clustering analysis, and evaluating it with a novel design that avoids randomisation while allowing for methods comparison, we are confident that this study will inform how viral sequence clustering analysis can be routinely integrated into public health to support the ending of the HIV pandemic in the USA and beyond. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION The study was approved by both the Lifespan and Rhode Island Department of Health Human Subjects Research Institutional Review Boards and study results will be published in peer-reviewed journals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jon A Steingrimsson
- Biostatistics, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - John Fulton
- Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Mark Howison
- Research Improving People's Lives, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Vlad Novitsky
- Department of Medicine, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Fizza S Gillani
- Department of Medicine, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Thomas Bertrand
- Rhode Island Department of Health, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Anna Civitarese
- Rhode Island Department of Health, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Katharine Howe
- Rhode Island Department of Health, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | | | - Benjamin Lafazia
- Rhode Island Department of Health, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Zoanne Parillo
- Rhode Island Department of Health, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Theodore Marak
- Rhode Island Department of Health, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Philip A Chan
- Department of Medicine, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
- Rhode Island Department of Health, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Lila Bhattarai
- Rhode Island Department of Health, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Casey Dunn
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Utpala Bandy
- Rhode Island Department of Health, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | | | - Joseph W Hogan
- Biostatistics, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Rami Kantor
- Department of Medicine, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
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Hammami P, Widgren S, Grosbois V, Apolloni A, Rose N, Andraud M. Complex network analysis to understand trading partnership in French swine production. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0266457. [PMID: 35390068 PMCID: PMC8989331 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0266457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The circulation of livestock pathogens in the pig industry is strongly related to animal movements. Epidemiological models developed to understand the circulation of pathogens within the industry should include the probability of transmission via between-farm contacts. The pig industry presents a structured network in time and space, whose composition changes over time. Therefore, to improve the predictive capabilities of epidemiological models, it is important to identify the drivers of farmers’ choices in terms of trade partnerships. Combining complex network analysis approaches and exponential random graph models, this study aims to analyze patterns of the swine industry network and identify key factors responsible for between-farm contacts at the French scale. The analysis confirms the topological stability of the network over time while highlighting the important roles of companies, types of farm, farm sizes, outdoor housing systems and batch-rearing systems. Both approaches revealed to be complementary and very effective to understand the drivers of the network. Results of this study are promising for future developments of epidemiological models for livestock diseases. This study is part of the One Health European Joint Programme: BIOPIGEE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pachka Hammami
- Anses Ploufragan-Plouzané-Niort Laboratory / Epidemiology, Health and Welfare Research Unit (EpiSaBE), French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety, Ploufragan, France
| | - Stefan Widgren
- Department of Disease Control and Epidemiology, National Veterinary Institute, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Vladimir Grosbois
- Animal, Health, Territories, Risks, Ecosystems, Research Unit (ASTRE)/Agricultural Research for Development/Campus de Baillarguet, Cirad, Montpellier, France
- Animal, Health, Territories, Risks, Ecosystems, Research Unit (ASTRE), Univ. Montpellier, Montpellier, France
- Animal, Health, Territories, Risks, Ecosystems, Research Unit (ASTRE)/French National Institute for Agricultural Research/Campus de Baillarguet, INRAE, Montpellier, France
| | - Andrea Apolloni
- Animal, Health, Territories, Risks, Ecosystems, Research Unit (ASTRE)/Agricultural Research for Development/Campus de Baillarguet, Cirad, Montpellier, France
- Animal, Health, Territories, Risks, Ecosystems, Research Unit (ASTRE), Univ. Montpellier, Montpellier, France
- Animal, Health, Territories, Risks, Ecosystems, Research Unit (ASTRE)/French National Institute for Agricultural Research/Campus de Baillarguet, INRAE, Montpellier, France
| | - Nicolas Rose
- Anses Ploufragan-Plouzané-Niort Laboratory / Epidemiology, Health and Welfare Research Unit (EpiSaBE), French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety, Ploufragan, France
| | - Mathieu Andraud
- Anses Ploufragan-Plouzané-Niort Laboratory / Epidemiology, Health and Welfare Research Unit (EpiSaBE), French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety, Ploufragan, France
- * E-mail:
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Kuchler T, Russel D, Stroebel J. JUE Insight: The geographic spread of COVID-19 correlates with the structure of social networks as measured by Facebook. JOURNAL OF URBAN ECONOMICS 2022; 127:103314. [PMID: 35250112 PMCID: PMC8886493 DOI: 10.1016/j.jue.2020.103314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2020] [Revised: 12/11/2020] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
We use aggregated data from Facebook to show that COVID-19 is more likely to spread between regions with stronger social network connections. Areas with more social ties to two early COVID-19 "hotspots" (Westchester County, NY, in the U.S. and Lodi province in Italy) generally had more confirmed COVID-19 cases by the end of March. These relationships hold after controlling for geographic distance to the hotspots as well as the population density and demographics of the regions. As the pandemic progressed in the U.S., a county's social proximity to recent COVID-19 cases and deaths predicts future outbreaks over and above physical proximity and demographics. In part due to its broad coverage, social connectedness data provides additional predictive power to measures based on smartphone location or online search data. These results suggest that data from online social networks can be useful to epidemiologists and others hoping to forecast the spread of communicable diseases such as COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theresa Kuchler
- New York University, Stern School of Business, NBER, and CEPR
| | - Dominic Russel
- New York University, Stern School of Business, NBER, and CEPR
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Abstract
HIV-prevention program planning, implementation, and evaluation began in the United States shortly after reports of a mysterious, apparently acquired, immune deficiency syndrome appeared in summer 1981. In San Francisco, New York City, and elsewhere, members of LGBT communities responded by providing accurate information, giving support, and raising money. During the first decade of the AIDS pandemic (1981–1990), social and behavioral scientists contributed by designing theory-based and practical interventions, combining interventions into programs, and measuring impact on behavior change and HIV incidence. In the second decade (1991–2000), federal, state, and local agencies and organizations played a more prominent role in establishing policies and procedures, funding research and programs, and determining the direction of intervention efforts. In the third decade (2001–2010), biomedical interventions were prioritized over behavioral interventions and have dominated attempts in the fourth decade (2011–2020) to integrate biomedical, behavioral, and structural interventions into coherent, efficient, and cost-effective programs to end AIDS.
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11
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Rudolph AE, Young AM. Privacy and Confidentiality Considerations for Collecting HIV Risk Network Data among Men who Have Sex with Men and Implications for Constructing Valid Risk Networks. SOCIAL NETWORKS 2021; 67:47-54. [PMID: 34712004 PMCID: PMC8547314 DOI: 10.1016/j.socnet.2019.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Studies aiming to construct risk networks have historically collected network members' names, demographic characteristics and relational data (i.e., type, strength, duration, frequency of interaction, and HIV-related risk behaviors between the pair). Due to difficulties in constructing risk networks stemming from partner anonymity and the use of nicknames, some studies also collect network members' screen names, phone numbers, physical attributes, and scars/tattoos to assist with entity resolution. In-depth interviews with 20 men who have sex with men and transgender women in Kentucky assessed privacy/confidentiality concerns as well as accuracy/recall issues associated with providing these details. Most preferred providing alters' nicknames/first names only or a first name with the first letter of the last name. Many perceived screen names, phone numbers, and scars/tattoos to be too personal/identifying. Willingness to provide more detailed information varied by relationship type/strength, which could influence the validity of the resulting network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abby E. Rudolph
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston MA
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Temple University College of Public Health, Philadelphia PA
| | - April M. Young
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Kentucky College of Public Health, Lexington KY
- Center on Drug and Alcohol Research, Department of Behavioral Science, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington KY
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12
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Miller PB, Zalwango S, Galiwango R, Kakaire R, Sekandi J, Steinbaum L, Drake JM, Whalen CC, Kiwanuka N. Association between tuberculosis in men and social network structure in Kampala, Uganda. BMC Infect Dis 2021; 21:1023. [PMID: 34592946 PMCID: PMC8482622 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-021-06475-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2020] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Globally, tuberculosis disease (TB) is more common among males than females. Recent research proposes that differences in social mixing by sex could alter infection patterns in TB. We examine evidence for two mechanisms by which social-mixing could increase men’s contact rates with TB cases. First, men could be positioned in social networks such that they contact more people or social groups. Second, preferential mixing by sex could prime men to have more exposure to TB cases. Methods We compared the networks of male and female TB cases and healthy matched controls living in Kampala, Uganda. Specifically, we estimated their positions in social networks (network distance to TB cases, degree, betweenness, and closeness) and assortativity patterns (mixing with adult men, women, and children inside and outside the household). Results The observed network consisted of 11,840 individuals. There were few differences in estimates of node position by sex. We found distinct mixing patterns by sex and TB disease status including that TB cases have proportionally more adult male contacts and fewer contacts with children. Conclusions This analysis used a network approach to study how social mixing patterns are associated with TB disease. Understanding these mechanisms may have implications for designing targeted intervention strategies in high-burden populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paige B Miller
- Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | | | | | - Robert Kakaire
- Global Health Institute, College of Public Health, University of Georgia, 100 Foster Drive, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Juliet Sekandi
- Global Health Institute, College of Public Health, University of Georgia, 100 Foster Drive, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Lauren Steinbaum
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Health, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - John M Drake
- Odum School of Ecology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Christopher C Whalen
- Global Health Institute, College of Public Health, University of Georgia, 100 Foster Drive, Athens, GA, 30602, USA. .,Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Health, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA.
| | - Noah Kiwanuka
- Makerere University School of Public Health, Kampala, Uganda
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Understanding material and supplier networks in the construction of disaster-relief shelters: the feasibility of using social network analysis as a decision-making tool. JOURNAL OF HUMANITARIAN LOGISTICS AND SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT 2021. [DOI: 10.1108/jhlscm-01-2020-0007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
PurposeUnderstanding the supply network of construction materials used to construct shelters in refugee camps, or during the reconstruction of communities, is important as it can reveal the intricate links between different stakeholders and the volumes and speeds of material flows to the end-user. Using social network analysis (SNA) enables another dimension to be analysed – the role of commonalities. This is likely to be particularly important when attempting to replace vernacular materials with higher-performing alternatives or when encouraging the use of non-vernacular methods. This paper aims to analyse the supply networks of four different disaster-relief situations.Design/methodology/approachData were collected from interviews with 272 displaced (or formally displaced) families in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Turkey, often in difficult conditions.FindingsThe results show that the form of the supply networks was highly influenced by the nature/cause of the initial displacement, the geographical location, the local availability of materials and the degree of support/advice given by aid agencies and or governments. In addition, it was found that SNA could be used to indicate which strategies might work in a particular context and which might not, thereby potentially speeding up the delivery of novel solutions.Research limitations/implicationsThis study represents the first attempt in theorising and empirically investigating supply networks using SNA in a post-disaster reconstruction context. It is suggested that future studies might map the up-stream supply chain to include manufacturers and higher-order, out of country, suppliers. This would provide a complete picture of the origins of all materials and components in the supply network.Originality/valueThis is original research, and it aims to produce new knowledge.
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Hüttel FB, Iversen AM, Bo Hansen M, Kjær Ersbøll B, Ellermann-Eriksen S, Lundtorp Olsen N. Analysis of social interactions and risk factors relevant to the spread of infectious diseases at hospitals and nursing homes. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0257684. [PMID: 34543324 PMCID: PMC8452062 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0257684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [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: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Ensuring the safety of healthcare workers is vital to overcome the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. We here present an analysis of the social interactions between the healthcare workers at hospitals and nursing homes. Using data from an automated hand hygiene system, we inferred social interactions between healthcare workers to identify transmission paths of infection in hospitals and nursing homes. A majority of social interactions occurred in medication rooms and kitchens emphasising that health-care workers should be especially aware of following the infection prevention guidelines in these places. Using epidemiology simulations of disease at the locations, we found no need to quarantine all healthcare workers at work with a contagious colleague. Only 14.1% and 24.2% of the health-care workers in the hospitals and nursing homes are potentially infected when we disregard hand sanitization and assume the disease is very infectious. Based on our simulations, we observe a 41% and 26% reduction in the number of infected healthcare workers at the hospital and nursing home, when we assume that hand sanitization reduces the spread by 20% from people to people and 99% from people to objects. The analysis and results presented here forms a basis for future research to explore the potential of a fully automated contact tracing systems.
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Schaber KL, Morrison AC, Elson WH, Astete-Vega H, Córdova-López JJ, Ríos López EJ, Flores WLQ, Santillan ASV, Scott TW, Waller LA, Kitron U, Barker CM, Perkins TA, Rothman AL, Vazquez-Prokopec GM, Elder JP, Paz-Soldan VA. The impact of dengue illness on social distancing and caregiving behavior. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2021; 15:e0009614. [PMID: 34280204 PMCID: PMC8354465 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0009614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Revised: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Human mobility among residential locations can drive dengue virus (DENV) transmission dynamics. Recently, it was shown that individuals with symptomatic DENV infection exhibit significant changes in their mobility patterns, spending more time at home during illness. This change in mobility is predicted to increase the risk of acquiring infection for those living with or visiting the ill individual. It has yet to be considered, however, whether social contacts are also changing their mobility, either by socially distancing themselves from the infectious individual or increasing contact to help care for them. Social, or physical, distancing and caregiving could have diverse yet important impacts on DENV transmission dynamics; therefore, it is necessary to better understand the nature and frequency of these behaviors including their effect on mobility. METHODOLOGY AND PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Through community-based febrile illness surveillance and RT-PCR infection confirmation, 67 DENV positive (DENV+) residents were identified in the city of Iquitos, Peru. Using retrospective interviews, data were collected on visitors and home-based care received during the illness. While 15% of participants lost visitors during their illness, 22% gained visitors; overall, 32% of all individuals (particularly females) received visitors while symptomatic. Caregiving was common (90%), particularly caring by housemates (91%) and caring for children (98%). Twenty-eight percent of caregivers changed their behavior enough to have their work (and, likely, mobility patterns) affected. This was significantly more likely when caring for individuals with low "health-related quality of well-being" during illness (Fisher's Exact, p = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE Our study demonstrates that social contacts of individuals with dengue modify their patterns of visitation and caregiving. The observed mobility changes could impact a susceptible individual's exposure to virus or a presymptomatic/clinically inapparent individual's contribution to onward transmission. Accounting for changes in social contact mobility is imperative in order to get a more accurate understanding of DENV transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn L. Schaber
- Program of Population Biology, Ecology and Evolution, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Amy C. Morrison
- Department of Virology and Emerging Infections, U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit No. 6, Lima and Iquitos, Peru
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - William H. Elson
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Helvio Astete-Vega
- Department of Virology and Emerging Infections, U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit No. 6, Lima and Iquitos, Peru
| | - Jhonny J. Córdova-López
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Esther Jennifer Ríos López
- Department of Virology and Emerging Infections, U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit No. 6, Lima and Iquitos, Peru
| | - W. Lorena Quiroz Flores
- Department of Virology and Emerging Infections, U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit No. 6, Lima and Iquitos, Peru
| | | | - Thomas W. Scott
- Department of Entomology and Nematology, University of California, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Lance A. Waller
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Uriel Kitron
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Christopher M. Barker
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - T. Alex Perkins
- Department of Biological Sciences and Eck Institute for Global Health, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Alan L. Rothman
- Institute for Immunology and Informatics and Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Rhode Island, Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America
| | - Gonzalo M. Vazquez-Prokopec
- Program of Population Biology, Ecology and Evolution, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - John P. Elder
- School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Valerie A. Paz-Soldan
- Department of Global Community Health and Behavioral Sciences, Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Okello WO, Amongi CA, Muhanguzi D, MacLeod ET, Waiswa C, Shaw AP, Welburn SC. Livestock Network Analysis for Rhodesiense Human African Trypanosomiasis Control in Uganda. Front Vet Sci 2021; 8:611132. [PMID: 34262958 PMCID: PMC8273440 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.611132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Infected cattle sourced from districts with established foci for Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense human African trypanosomiasis (rHAT) migrating to previously unaffected districts, have resulted in a significant expansion of the disease in Uganda. This study explores livestock movement data to describe cattle trade network topology and assess the effects of disease control interventions on the transmission of rHAT infectiousness. Methods: Network analysis was used to generate a cattle trade network with livestock data which was collected from cattle traders (n = 197) and validated using random graph methods. Additionally, the cattle trade network was combined with a susceptible, infected, recovered (SIR) compartmental model to simulate spread of rHAT (R o 1.287), hence regarded as "slow" pathogen, and evaluate the effects of disease interventions. Results: The cattle trade network exhibited a low clustering coefficient (0.5) with most cattle markets being weakly connected and a few being highly connected. Also, analysis of the cattle movement data revealed a core group comprising of cattle markets from both eastern (rHAT endemic) and northwest regions (rHAT unaffected area). Presence of a core group may result in rHAT spread to unaffected districts and occurrence of super spreader cattle market or markets in case of an outbreak. The key cattle markets that may be targeted for routine rHAT surveillance and control included Namutumba, Soroti, and Molo, all of which were in southeast Uganda. Using effective trypanosomiasis such as integrated cattle injection with trypanocides and spraying can sufficiently slow the spread of rHAT in the network. Conclusion: Cattle trade network analysis indicated a pathway along which T. b. rhodesiense could spread northward from eastern Uganda. Targeted T. b. rhodesiense surveillance and control in eastern Uganda, through enhanced public-private partnerships, would serve to limit its spread.
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Affiliation(s)
- Walter O. Okello
- Infection Medicine, Biomedical Sciences, Edinburgh Medical School, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Commonwealth and Scientific Research Organization, Land & Water Business Unit, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Christine A. Amongi
- Infection Medicine, Biomedical Sciences, Edinburgh Medical School, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Zhejiang University-University of Edinburgh Institute, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Dennis Muhanguzi
- Biotechnical and Laboratory Sciences, Department of Biomolecular and Biolaboratory Sciences, School of Biosecurity, College of Veterinary Medicine Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Ewan T. MacLeod
- Infection Medicine, Biomedical Sciences, Edinburgh Medical School, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Charles Waiswa
- Infection Medicine, Biomedical Sciences, Edinburgh Medical School, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Biotechnical and Laboratory Sciences, Department of Biomolecular and Biolaboratory Sciences, School of Biosecurity, College of Veterinary Medicine Animal Resources and Biosecurity, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
- The Coordinating Office for Control of Trypanosomiasis in Uganda (COCTU), Kampala, Uganda
| | - Alexandra P. Shaw
- Infection Medicine, Biomedical Sciences, Edinburgh Medical School, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Avia-GIS, Zoersel, Belgium
| | - Susan C. Welburn
- Infection Medicine, Biomedical Sciences, Edinburgh Medical School, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Zhejiang University-University of Edinburgh Institute, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
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Gollwitzer A, McLoughlin K, Martel C, Marshall J, Höhs JM, Bargh JA. Linking Self-Reported Social Distancing to Real-World Behavior During the COVID-19 Pandemic. SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGICAL AND PERSONALITY SCIENCE 2021. [DOI: 10.1177/19485506211018132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
In an effort to combat COVID-19 and future pandemics, researchers have attempted to identify the factors underlying social distancing. Yet, much of this research relies on self-report measures. In two studies, we examine whether self-reported social distancing predicts objective distancing behavior. In Study 1, individuals’ self-reported social distancing predicted decreased mobility (assessed via smartphone step counts) during the COVID-19 pandemic. While participants high in self-reported distancing (+1 SD) exhibited a 33% reduction in daily step counts, those low in distancing (−1 SD) exhibited only a 3% reduction. Study 2 extended these findings to the group level. Self-reported social distancing at the U.S. state level accounted for 20% of the variance in states’ objective reduction in overall movement and visiting nonessential services (calculated via the GPS coordinates of ∼15 million people). Collectively, our results indicate that self-reported social distancing tracks actual social distancing behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Julia Marshall
- Department of Psychology, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, USA
| | | | - John A. Bargh
- Department of Psychology, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
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18
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Jamshidi B, Alavi SMR, Parham GA. The distribution of the number of the infected individuals in a stochastic SIR model on regular rooted trees. COMMUN STAT-SIMUL C 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/03610918.2019.1584299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Babak Jamshidi
- Statistics Department, Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Sciences, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Sayed Mohammad Reza Alavi
- Statistics Department, Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Sciences, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Gholam Ali Parham
- Statistics Department, Faculty of Mathematics and Computer Sciences, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran
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Hadjikou A, Pantavou K, Pavlitina E, Pavlopoulou ID, Economou M, Christaki E, Lamnisos D, Kostaki EG, Paraskevis D, Schneider J, Talias M, Friedman SR, Nikolopoulos GK. Sociometric Risk Network Structure, HIV Prevalence, and Drug Injection-Related Norms among People Who Inject Drugs (PWID) in Athens, Greece. Subst Use Misuse 2021; 56:1190-1201. [PMID: 33975493 DOI: 10.1080/10826084.2021.1914103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Background: Structural properties of sociometric networks have been associated with behaviors related to HIV transmission. Very few studies, however, have explored the correlation between sociometric network factors and drug injection-related norms. Methods: This exploratory work: (i) describes basic structural qualities of a sociometric risk network of participants in the Transmission Reduction Intervention Project (TRIP) in Athens, Greece, in the context of a large HIV outbreak among people who inject drugs (PWID); (ii) measures HIV prevalence within specific structures within the sociometric risk network of PWID in TRIP; and (iii) explores the association of structural properties of the sociometric risk network in TRIP with drug injection-related norms. Results: The sociometric risk network in TRIP consisted of a large component (n = 241, 67.8%), a few small components (n = 36, 10.1%) with 2-10 individuals each, and some isolates (n = 79, 22.2%). HIV prevalence was significantly higher in the large component (55.6%), the 2-core (59.1%) and 3-core (66.3%) of the large component, and the 3-cliques of the cores. Drug injection-related norms were significantly associated with structural characteristics of the sociometric risk network. A safe behavioral pattern (use of unclean cooker/filter/rinse water was never encouraged) was significantly (p = 0.03) less normative among people who TRIP participants of the 2-core injected with (40.5%) than among network contacts of TRIP participants outside the 2-core (55.6%). On the contrary, at drug-using venues, 2-core members reported that safer behaviors were normative compared to what was reported by those without 2-core membership. Conclusions: Sociometric network data can give useful insights into HIV transmission dynamics and inform prevention strategies.Supplemental data for this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1080/10826084.2021.1914103 .
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Affiliation(s)
- Andria Hadjikou
- Medical School, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus.,Department of Health Sciences, School of Sciences, European University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | | | | | - Ioanna D Pavlopoulou
- Pediatric Research Laboratory, Faculty of Nursing, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Mary Economou
- Medical School, University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | | | - Demetris Lamnisos
- Department of Health Sciences, School of Sciences, European University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - 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
| | - John Schneider
- Departments of Medicine and Public Health Sciences, University of Chicago Medical Center, Center for AIDS Elimination, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Michael Talias
- Healthcare Management Postgraduate Program, Open University of Cyprus, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Samuel R Friedman
- Department of Population Health, NYU Medical School, New York City, New York, USA.,National Development and Research Institutes, New York City, New York, USA
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20
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Dong ZL, Gao GF, Lyu F. Advances in research of HIV transmission networks. Chin Med J (Engl) 2020; 133:2850-2858. [PMID: 33273335 PMCID: PMC10631577 DOI: 10.1097/cm9.0000000000001155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Transmission network analysis is a crucial evaluation tool aiming to explore the characteristics of the human immunodeficiency virus epidemic, develop evidence-based prevention strategies, and contribute to various areas of human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome prevention and control. Over recent decades, transmission networks have made tremendous strides in terms of modes, methods, applications, and various other aspects. Transmission network methods, including social, sexual, and molecular transmission networks, have played a pivotal role. Each transmission network research method has its advantages, as well as its limitations. In this study, we established a systematic review of these aforementioned transmission networks with respect to their definitions, applications, limitations, recent progress, and synthetic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi-Long Dong
- National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China
| | - George Fu Gao
- National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China
| | - Fan Lyu
- National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China
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21
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Elkhalifa S, Jozaghi E, Marsh S, Thomson E, Gregg D, Buxton J, Jolly A. Social network support and harm reduction activities in a peer researcher-led pilot study, British Columbia, Canada. Harm Reduct J 2020; 17:57. [PMID: 32825836 PMCID: PMC7441606 DOI: 10.1186/s12954-020-00401-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2020] [Accepted: 08/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background People who smoke drugs (PWSD) are at high risk of both infectious disease and overdose. Harm reduction activities organized by their peers in the community can reduce risk by providing education, safer smoking supplies, and facilitate access to other services. Peers also provide a network of people who provide social support to PWSD which may reinforce harm reducing behaviors. We evaluated the numbers of supportive network members and the relationships between received support and participants’ harm-reducing activities. Methods Initial peer-researchers with past or current lived drug use experience were employed from communities in Abbotsford and Vancouver to interview ten friends from their social networks who use illegal drugs mainly through smoking. Contacts completed a questionnaire about people in their own harm reduction networks and their relationships with each other. We categorized social support into informational, emotional, and tangible aspects, and harm reduction into being trained in the use of, or carrying naloxone, assisting peers with overdoses, using brass screens to smoke, obtaining pipes from service organizations and being trained in CPR. Results Fifteen initial peer researchers interviewed 149 participants who provided information on up to 10 people who were friends or contacts and the relationships between them. People who smoked drugs in public were 1.46 (95% CI, 1.13-1.78) more likely to assist others with possible overdoses if they received tangible support; women who received tangible support were 1.24 (95% CI; 1.02-1.45) more likely to carry and be trained in the use of naloxone. There was no relationship between number of supportive network members and harm reduction behaviors. Conclusions In this pilot study, PWSD who received tangible support were more likely to assist peers in possible overdoses and be trained in the use of and/or carry naloxone, than those who did not receive tangible support. Future work on the social relationships of PWSD may prove valuable in the search for credible and effective interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sulaf Elkhalifa
- School of Public Health, University of Ottawa, Room 101, 600 Peter Morand Crescent, Ottawa, Ontario, KIH 8 M5, Canada
| | - Ehsan Jozaghi
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, 2206 East Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Samona Marsh
- Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users, 380 East Hastings Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6A 1P4, Canada.,British Columbia/Yukon Association of Drug War Survivors, 380 East Hastings Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6A 1P4, Canada.,Sex Workers United Against Violence, 334 Alexander Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6A 1C3, Canada.,Western Aboriginal Harm Reduction Society, 380 East Hastings Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6A 1P4, Canada
| | - Erica Thomson
- University of Fraser Valley, 33844 King Road, Abbotsford, British Columbia, V2S 7 M8, Canada.,The Fraser Health Authority, Suite 400, Central City Tower, 13450 - 102nd Avenue, Surrey, British Columbia, V3T 0H1, Canada
| | - Delilah Gregg
- Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users, 380 East Hastings Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6A 1P4, Canada.,Western Aboriginal Harm Reduction Society, 380 East Hastings Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6A 1P4, Canada
| | - Jane Buxton
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, 2206 East Mall, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6T 1Z3, Canada.,British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, 655 West 12th Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia, V5Z 4R4, Canada
| | - Ann Jolly
- School of Public Health, University of Ottawa, Room 101, 600 Peter Morand Crescent, Ottawa, Ontario, KIH 8 M5, Canada.
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Abstract
Background: It is extremely useful to construct mathematical models to forecast and control real phenomena. One of the common applied statistical models to represent the data involving with time is the time series modeling. A novel time series model to represent the propagation of an epidemic infection in a population is presented. The model deals with addressing the cumulative number of confirmed cases. Methods: Our model is the generalization of statistical exponential growth models and can describe different stages of the outbreak of a communicable disease. Applying the mentioned procedure leads to models CVJR1 (3.2, 1.44, 3, 13) for modeling the sequence of COVID-19 from January 13 to March 5. All computations and 200 simulations were done in MatLab 8.6. Results: For comparing candidates through fitting the dataset for six pairs of (l^ and a^), we used the minimum criterion square of residuals. We present the average and 90% upper and lower bounds of the predictions made by our models for three periods. Applying the mentioned procedure led to having models with parameters (3.2, 1.44, 3, 13) for modeling the course of COVID-19 from January 13 to March 5. Conclusions: The presented model can cover the epidemic behaviors related to social networks. Our model can be adjusted to worldwide modeling for modeling a phenomenon spreading in different populations simultaneously.
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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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Xu R. Statistical methods for the estimation of contagion effects in human disease and health networks. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2020; 18:1754-1760. [PMID: 32695268 PMCID: PMC7355717 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2020.06.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2020] [Revised: 06/17/2020] [Accepted: 06/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Contagion effects, sometimes referred to as spillover or influence effects, have long been central to the study of human disease and health networks. Accurate estimation and identification of contagion effects are important in terms of understanding the spread of human disease and health behavior, and they also have various implications for designing effective public health interventions. However, many challenges remain in estimating contagion effects and it is often unclear when it is difficult to correctly estimate contagion effects, or why a particular method would need to be applied. In this review I explain the challenges in estimating contagion effects, and how they can be framed as an omitted variable bias problem. I then discuss how such challenges have been addressed in randomized experiments and traditional statistical analyses, as well as several state-of-the-art statistical methods. Finally, I conclude by summarizing recent advancements and noting remaining challenges, as well as appropriate next steps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ran Xu
- Department of Allied Health Sciences, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, United States
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25
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Preventing Internal COVID-19 Outbreaks within Businesses and Institutions: A Methodology Based on Social Networks Analysis for Supporting Occupational Health and Safety Services Decision Making. SUSTAINABILITY 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/su12114655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
This study aims at developing and demonstrating in a real case study a methodology for supporting Occupational Health and Safety Services in the design and assessment of preventive measures to reduce the risks of COVID-19 outbreaks within their entities. The proposed methodology applies the concepts from Social Network Analysis (SNA) to the current challenge of preventing risks of contagion of viruses like SARS-COV-2 among employees. For this purpose, the authors consider a network of employees whose interaction is caused by triggers, which are defined as common circumstances between two workers that may result in contagion, like sharing an office or participating in the same management board. The network cohesion is then evaluated, and those core nodes, which are the most significant contributors to its integration, are identified to be addressed in the design of the preventive measures. The impact of the designed preventive measures on the networks’ cohesion is assessed for its prioritization and further deployment. The methodology has been demonstrated in a real case, a Spanish Research Center, providing promising results in a quick and easy manner. The objective insights provided by its application were demonstrated as very valuable for the Occupational Health and Safety Services in the design and evaluation of the set of preventing measures to be implemented before the return of the employees to the facilities after the Spanish confinement period. The current COVID-19 outbreak brings the need to develop tools and methods to support businesses and institutions in the use of SNA for preventing outbreaks among their employees. Although some literature does exist in the field of SNA application in epidemiology, its adaptation for extensive use by the Occupational and Health Services is still a challenge.
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Wohlfeil CK, Godfrey SS, Leu ST, Clayton J, Gardner MG. Spatial proximity and asynchronous refuge sharing networks both explain patterns of tick genetic relatedness among lizards, but in different years. AUSTRAL ECOL 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/aec.12899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Caroline K. Wohlfeil
- College of Science and Engineering Flinders University GPO Box 2100 Adelaide South Australia 5001 Australia
| | | | - Stephan T. Leu
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences University of Adelaide Adelaide South Australia Australia
| | - Jessica Clayton
- College of Science and Engineering Flinders University GPO Box 2100 Adelaide South Australia 5001 Australia
| | - Michael G. Gardner
- College of Science and Engineering Flinders University GPO Box 2100 Adelaide South Australia 5001 Australia
- Evolutionary Biology Unit South Australian Museum Adelaide South Australia Australia
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Matías-Florentino M, Chaillon A, Ávila-Ríos S, Mehta SR, Paz-Juárez HE, Becerril-Rodríguez MA, del Arenal-Sánchez SJ, Piñeirúa-Menéndez A, Ruiz V, Iracheta-Hernández P, Macías-González I, Tena-Sánchez J, Badial-Hernández F, González-Rodríguez A, Reyes-Terán G. Pretreatment HIV drug resistance spread within transmission clusters in Mexico City. J Antimicrob Chemother 2020; 75:656-667. [PMID: 31819984 PMCID: PMC7021100 DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkz502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [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: 07/08/2019] [Revised: 10/28/2019] [Accepted: 11/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pretreatment HIV drug resistance (HIVDR) to NNRTIs has consistently increased in Mexico City during the last decade. OBJECTIVES To infer the HIV genetic transmission network in Mexico City to describe the dynamics of the local HIV epidemic and spread of HIVDR. PATIENTS AND METHODS HIV pol sequences were obtained by next-generation sequencing from 2447 individuals before initiation of ART at the largest HIV clinic in Mexico City (April 2016 to June 2018). Pretreatment HIVDR was estimated using the Stanford algorithm at a Sanger-like threshold (≥20%). Genetic networks were inferred with HIV-TRACE, establishing putative transmission links with genetic distances <1.5%. We examined demographic associations among linked individuals with shared drug resistance mutations (DRMs) using a ≥ 2% threshold to include low-frequency variants. RESULTS Pretreatment HIVDR reached 14.8% (95% CI 13.4%-16.2%) in the cohort overall and 9.6% (8.5%-10.8%) to NNRTIs. Putative links with at least one other sequence were found for 963/2447 (39%) sequences, forming 326 clusters (2-20 individuals). The inferred network was assortative by age and municipality (P < 0.001). Clustering individuals were younger [adjusted OR (aOR) per year = 0.96, 95% CI 0.95-0.97, P < 0.001] and less likely to include women (aOR = 0.46, 95% CI 0.28-0.75, P = 0.002). Among clustering individuals, 175/963 (18%) shared DRMs (involving 66 clusters), of which 66/175 (38%) shared K103N/S (24 clusters). Eight municipalities (out of 75) harboured 65% of persons sharing DRMs. Among all persons sharing DRMs, those sharing K103N were younger (aOR = 0.93, 95% CI 0.88-0.98, P = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS Our analyses suggest age- and geographically associated transmission of DRMs within the HIV genetic network in Mexico City, warranting continuous monitoring and focused interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margarita Matías-Florentino
- Centre for Research in Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Calzada de Tlalpan 4502, Colonia Sección XVI, CP 14080 Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Antoine Chaillon
- University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive 0679, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Santiago Ávila-Ríos
- Centre for Research in Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Calzada de Tlalpan 4502, Colonia Sección XVI, CP 14080 Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Sanjay R Mehta
- University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive 0679, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Héctor E Paz-Juárez
- Centre for Research in Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Calzada de Tlalpan 4502, Colonia Sección XVI, CP 14080 Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Manuel A Becerril-Rodríguez
- Centre for Research in Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Calzada de Tlalpan 4502, Colonia Sección XVI, CP 14080 Mexico City, Mexico
- Clínica Especializada Condesa, Gral, Benjamín Hill 24, Hipódromo Condesa, CP 06170 Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Silvia J del Arenal-Sánchez
- Centre for Research in Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Calzada de Tlalpan 4502, Colonia Sección XVI, CP 14080 Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Alicia Piñeirúa-Menéndez
- Clínica Especializada Condesa Iztapalapa, Av. Combate de Celaya S/N, Colonia Unidad Habitacional Vicente Guerrero, CP 09730 Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Verónica Ruiz
- Clínica Especializada Condesa, Gral, Benjamín Hill 24, Hipódromo Condesa, CP 06170 Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Patricia Iracheta-Hernández
- Clínica Especializada Condesa Iztapalapa, Av. Combate de Celaya S/N, Colonia Unidad Habitacional Vicente Guerrero, CP 09730 Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Israel Macías-González
- Clínica Especializada Condesa, Gral, Benjamín Hill 24, Hipódromo Condesa, CP 06170 Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Jehovani Tena-Sánchez
- Clínica Especializada Condesa, Gral, Benjamín Hill 24, Hipódromo Condesa, CP 06170 Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Florentino Badial-Hernández
- Clínica Especializada Condesa Iztapalapa, Av. Combate de Celaya S/N, Colonia Unidad Habitacional Vicente Guerrero, CP 09730 Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Andrea González-Rodríguez
- Clínica Especializada Condesa, Gral, Benjamín Hill 24, Hipódromo Condesa, CP 06170 Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Gustavo Reyes-Terán
- Centre for Research in Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Respiratory Diseases, Calzada de Tlalpan 4502, Colonia Sección XVI, CP 14080 Mexico City, Mexico
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Melmer DJ, O’Sullivan TL, Greer AL, Poljak Z. An investigation of transportation practices in an Ontario swine system using descriptive network analysis. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0226813. [PMID: 31923199 PMCID: PMC6953787 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0226813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2019] [Accepted: 11/20/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The objectives of this research were to describe the contact structure of transportation vehicles and swine facilities in an Ontario swine production system, and to assess their potential contribution to possible disease transmission over different time periods. A years’ worth of data (2015) was obtained from a large swine production and data management company located in Ontario, Canada. There was a total of 155 different transportation vehicles, and 220 different farms within the study population. Two-mode networks were constructed for 1-,3-, and 7-day time periods over the entire year and were analyzed. Trends in the size of the maximum weak component and outgoing contact chain over discrete time periods were investigated using linear regression. Additionally, the number of different types of facilities with betweenness >0 and in/out degree>0 were analyzed using Poisson regression. Maximum weekly outgoing contact chain (MOCCw) contained between 2.1% and 7.1% of the study population. This suggests a potential maximum of disease spread within this population if the disease was detected within one week. Frequency of node types within MOCCw showed considerable variability; although nursery sites were relatively most frequent. The regression analysis of several node and network level statistics indicated a potential peak time of connectivity during the summer months and warrants further confirmation and investigation. The inclusion of transportation vehicles contributed to the linear increase in the maximum weekly weak component (MWCw) size over time. This finding in combination with constant population dynamics, may have been driven by the differential utilization of trucks over time. Despite known limitations of maximum weak components as an estimator of possible outbreaks, this finding suggests that transportation vehicles should be included, when possible and relevant, in the evaluation of contacts between farms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dylan John Melmer
- Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
- * E-mail:
| | | | - Amy L. Greer
- Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Zvonimir Poljak
- Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
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Primate Infectious Disease Ecology: Insights and Future Directions at the Human-Macaque Interface. THE BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY OF THE TIBETAN MACAQUE 2020. [PMCID: PMC7123869 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-27920-2_13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Global population expansion has increased interactions and conflicts between humans and nonhuman primates over shared ecological space and resources. Such ecological overlap, along with our shared evolutionary histories, makes human-nonhuman primate interfaces hot spots for the acquisition and transmission of parasites. In this chapter, we bring to light the importance of human-macaque interfaces in particular as hot spots for infectious disease ecological and epidemiological assessments. We first outline the significance and broader objectives behind research related to the subfield of primate infectious disease ecology and epidemiology. We then reveal how members of the genus Macaca, being among the most socioecologically flexible and invasive of all primate taxa, live under varying degrees of overlap with humans in anthropogenic landscapes. Thus, human-macaque interfaces may favor the bidirectional exchange of parasites. We then review studies that have isolated various types of parasites at human-macaque interfaces, using information from the Global Mammal Parasite Database (GMPD: http://www.mammalparasites.org/). Finally, we elaborate on avenues through which the implementation of both novel conceptual frameworks (e.g., Coupled Systems, One Health) and quantitative network-based approaches (e.g., social and bipartite networks, agent-based modeling) may potentially address some of the critical gaps in our current knowledge of infectious disease ecology at human-primate interfaces.
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Moldovan ID, Suh K, Liu EY, Jolly A. Network analysis of cases with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and controls in a large tertiary care facility. Am J Infect Control 2019; 47:1420-1425. [PMID: 31279536 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajic.2019.05.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2019] [Revised: 05/28/2019] [Accepted: 05/28/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite increased awareness of infection control precautions, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) still spreads through patients and contaminated objects, causing a substantial burden of illness and cost. Our objective was to define risk factors for contracting MRSA in a tertiary health care facility using a historic case-control study and to validate health care network changes during pre-outbreak and outbreak periods. METHODS We conducted a case-control study using secondary data on hospitalizations where infected or colonized cases were compared with matched controls who tested negative by age, sex, and campus over 1 year. Social networks of all cases and controls were built from links joining patients to rooms, roommates, and health care providers over time. RESULTS Matched controls were similar to cases in comorbidity, lengths of stay, mortality, and number of roommates, rooms, and health care providers. As expected, the number of rooms and roommates increased in the outbreak by more than 50%. A timed animation of the network at one campus identified potential source patients linked to 2 rooms and many roommates, after which cases connected to those same rooms proliferated. CONCLUSIONS Only the network animation over time revealed possible transmission of MRSA through the network, rather than attributes measured in the traditional case control study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioana Doina Moldovan
- School of Epidemiology, Public Health and Preventive Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada; The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada.
| | - Kathryn Suh
- School of Epidemiology, Public Health and Preventive Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada; The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada; Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Erin Yiran Liu
- Performance Measurement, The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ann Jolly
- School of Epidemiology, Public Health and Preventive Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
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Dong X, Sun M, Wang J, Yang Z, Hu B. Understanding the Hierarchical Relationships in Female Sex Workers' Social Networks Based on Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2019; 16:ijerph16203841. [PMID: 31614585 PMCID: PMC6843495 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16203841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2019] [Revised: 09/23/2019] [Accepted: 10/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Female sex workers (FSWs) represent a high-risk population for HIV infection and transmission. In general, their fellow FSWs (peers) also play a role in their level of susceptibility to HIV/AIDS. This paper draws from interview data of 93 FSWs to construct a multi-layer FSW social network model based on their knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP). Statistical analyses of the correlation among the three dimensions of KAP as well as their social interactions indicated that FSWs had basic knowledge of HIV/AIDS prevention but demonstrated little enthusiasm in acquiring relevant information. Their knowledge, attitude, and practice were highly positively correlated. Their attitude was more likely to be negatively influenced by their companions, while their practice was more likely to be positively affected. Besides, FSWs exhibited high homophily in KAP with their neighbors. Thus, during HIV/AIDS interventions, FSWs should receive individualized education based on their specific KAP. Considering the high level of homophily among FSWs, their propensity to be positive or negative in their KAP are significantly influenced by their companions. Making full use of peer education and social interaction-based interventions may help prevent and control the spread of HIV/AIDS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianlei Dong
- School of Business, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250358, China;
| | - Mengge Sun
- National Science Library, Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing 100190, China;
- Department of Library Information and Archives Management, UCAS, Beijing100039, China
| | - Jingguo Wang
- Information Systems and Operation Management, College of Business, University of Texas at Arlington, Arlington, TX 76019, USA;
| | - Zhihan Yang
- Statistics with Data Science, School of Mathematics, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9YL, UK;
| | - Beibei Hu
- School of Business, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250358, China;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-13280027089
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Yang J, Xu H, Li S, Cheng W, Gu Y, Xu P, Yu Q, Lv F. The characteristics of mixing patterns of sexual dyads and factors correlated with condomless anal intercourse among men who have sex with men in Guangzhou, China. BMC Public Health 2019; 19:722. [PMID: 31182070 PMCID: PMC6558892 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-019-7082-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2018] [Accepted: 05/31/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The HIV prevalence among men who have sex with men (MSM) in China has increased yearly. This study aimed to explore the association between the characteristics of social communication and condomless anal intercourse (CAI) among MSM and the implications for prevention and control of HIV among MSM in China using an egocentric network framework. Methods The data were collected in Guangzhou between November 2016 and May 2017 through standardized face-to-face interviews. The participants were recruited among MSM who received voluntary counselling and testing services (VCT) provided by nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and the local Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). We used the framework of the egocentric network analysis, the odd ratios of CAI were analyzed using generalized estimating equations (GEE). Results In total, 1073 MSM who nominated 2667 sexual partners were sampled. MSM who were approximately 30 years old and chose sexual partners of different age category were more likely to engage in CAI. Participants with high level education who were in partnerships with individuals with lower education levels had a higher risk of CAI. Participants who reported having a strong relationship with their sexual partners(AOR = 1.31) were associated with a higher probability of experiencing CAI during sex; while having sexual partners who were unmarried (OR = 0.56), and participants who reported meeting sexual partners online (AOR = 0.74) or, having sex with an occasional partner (AOR = 0.44)were less likely to engage in CAI. Conclusion Our study indicates that the strength of sexual dyadic relational ties and different social communication mixing patterns across ages, educational categories, and marital status were associated with CAI. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12889-019-7082-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Yang
- The National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 155th Changbai Road, Changping District, Beijing, China
| | - Huifang Xu
- Department of HIV/AIDS Control and Prevention, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shuo Li
- United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Woman, China Office, Beijing, China
| | - Weibin Cheng
- Department of HIV/AIDS Control and Prevention, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuzhou Gu
- Department of HIV/AIDS Control and Prevention, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou, China
| | - Peng Xu
- The National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 155th Changbai Road, Changping District, Beijing, China
| | - Qiuyan Yu
- The National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 155th Changbai Road, Changping District, Beijing, China
| | - Fan Lv
- The National Center for AIDS/STD Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 155th Changbai Road, Changping District, Beijing, China.
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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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Fujimoto K, Cao M, Kuhns LM, Li D, Schneider JA. Statistical adjustment of network degree in respondent-driven sampling estimators: venue attendance as a proxy for network size among young MSM. SOCIAL NETWORKS 2018; 54:118-131. [PMID: 29910531 PMCID: PMC6001287 DOI: 10.1016/j.socnet.2018.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
We introduce a new venue-informed network degree measure, which we applied to respondent-driven sampling (RDS) estimators. Using data collected from 746 young MSM in 2014-2016 in Chicago, IL, and Houston, TX, we estimated the population seroprevalence of HIV and syphilis and risk/protective behaviors, using RDS estimates with self-reported network size as a standard degree measure as well as our proposed venue-informed degree measure. The results indicate that the venue-informed degree measure tended to be more efficient (smaller variance) and less biased than the other measure in both cities sampled. Venue attendance-adjusted network size may provide a more reliable and accurate degree measure for RDS estimates of the outcomes of interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kayo Fujimoto
- Department of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences, Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, TX, 7000 Fannin Street, UCT 2514, Houston, TX 77030-5401
| | - Ming Cao
- Department of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences, Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, TX, 7000 Fannin Street, UCT 2514, Houston, TX 77030-5401
| | - Lisa M Kuhns
- Division of Adolescent Medicine, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital, Chicago, IL, and Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Chicago, IL, 225 E. Chicago Avenue, #161, Chicago, IL 60611
| | - Dennis Li
- Department of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences, Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, TX, 7000 Fannin Street, UCT 2514, Houston, TX 77030-5401
| | - John A Schneider
- Department of Medicine and Public Health Sciences and the Chicago Center for HIV Elimination, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 5837 South Maryland Avenue MC 5065, Chicago, IL 60637
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey Evans
- Health Scientist Administrator Center for Population Research, National Institutes of Health
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Mahmoud H, Chulahwat A. Unraveling the Complexity of Wildland Urban Interface Fires. Sci Rep 2018; 8:9315. [PMID: 29915287 PMCID: PMC6006360 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-27215-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2018] [Accepted: 05/25/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent wildland urban interface fires have demonstrated the unrelenting destructive nature of these events and have called for an urgent need to address the problem. The Wildfire paradox reinforces the ideology that forest fires are inevitable and are actually beneficial; therefore focus should to be shifted towards minimizing potential losses to communities. This requires the development of vulnerability-based frameworks that can be used to provide holistic understanding of risk. In this study, we devise a probabilistic approach for quantifying community vulnerability to wildfires by applying concepts of graph theory. A directed graph for community in question is developed to model wildfire inside a community by incorporating different fire propagation modes. The model accounts for relevant community-specific characteristics including wind conditions, community layout, individual structural features, and the surrounding wildland vegetation. We calibrate the framework to study the infamous 1991 Oakland fire in an attempt to unravel the complexity of community fires. We use traditional centrality measures to identify critical behavior patterns and to evaluate the effect of fire mitigation strategies. Unlike current practice, the results are shown to be community-specific with substantial dependency of risk on meteorological conditions, environmental factors, and community characteristics and layout.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hussam Mahmoud
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado State University, Colorado, CO, 80523, USA.
| | - Akshat Chulahwat
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Colorado State University, Colorado, CO, 80523, USA
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Fitzgerald-Husek A, Van Wert MJ, Ewing WF, Grosso AL, Holland CE, Katterl R, Rosman L, Agarwal A, Baral SD. Measuring stigma affecting sex workers (SW) and men who have sex with men (MSM): A systematic review. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0188393. [PMID: 29190642 PMCID: PMC5708696 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0188393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2017] [Accepted: 10/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Stigma involves discrediting a person or group based on a perceived attribute, behaviour or reputation associated with them. Sex workers (SW) and men who have sex with men (MSM) are key populations who are often at increased risk for the acquisition and transmission of HIV and who are affected by stigma that can negatively impact their health and well-being. Although stigma was included as an indicator in the US National HIV/AIDS Strategic Plan and there have been consultations focused on adding a stigma indicator within PEPFAR and the Global Fund in relation to potentiating HIV risks among key populations, there remains limited consensus on the appropriate measurement of SW- or MSM-associated stigma. Consequently, this systematic review summarizes studies using quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods approaches to measure stigma affecting sex workers and men who have sex with men. Methods and findings This systematic review included English, French, and Spanish peer-reviewed research of any study design measuring SW- or MSM-associated stigma. Articles were published from January 1, 2004 to March 26, 2014 in PsycINFO, PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL Plus, Global Health, and World Health Organization Global Health Library Regional Indexes. Of the 541 articles reviewed, the majority measured stigma toward MSM (over 97%), were conducted in North America, used quantitative methods, and focused on internalized stigma. Conclusions With the inclusion of addressing stigma in several domestic and international HIV strategies, there is a need to ensure the use of validated metrics for stigma. The field to date has completed limited measurement of stigma affecting sex workers, and limited measurement of stigma affecting MSM outside of higher income settings. Moving forward requires a concerted effort integrating validated metrics of stigma into health-related surveys and programs for key populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alanna Fitzgerald-Husek
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- * E-mail:
| | - Michael J. Van Wert
- Community Psychiatry Program, Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Whitney F. Ewing
- Centre for Public Health and Human Rights, Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Ashley L. Grosso
- Centre for Public Health and Human Rights, Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Claire E. Holland
- Centre for Public Health and Human Rights, Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Rachel Katterl
- HIV/AIDS, STIs & Viral Hepatitis Programme, World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Lori Rosman
- Welch Medical Library, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Arnav Agarwal
- School of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Stefan D. Baral
- Centre for Public Health and Human Rights, Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
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Marra G, Radice R, Bärnighausen T, Wood SN, McGovern ME. A Simultaneous Equation Approach to Estimating HIV Prevalence With Nonignorable Missing Responses. J Am Stat Assoc 2017. [DOI: 10.1080/01621459.2016.1224713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Giampiero Marra
- Department of Statistical Science, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Rosalba Radice
- Department of Economics, Mathematics and Statistics, Birkbeck, University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Till Bärnighausen
- Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA
- Wellcome Trust Africa Centre for Population Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Mtubatuba, South Africa
| | - Simon N. Wood
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, University of Bristol, Clifton, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Mark E. McGovern
- Queen’s Management School, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast, Northern Ireland
- UKCRC Centre of Excellence for Public Health, Northern Ireland
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Chauhan SK. Discrete-time dynamic network model for the spread of susceptible-infective-recovered diseases. Phys Rev E 2017; 96:012305. [PMID: 29347135 PMCID: PMC7217507 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.96.012305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2016] [Revised: 02/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
We propose a discrete-time dynamic network model describing the spread of susceptible-infective-recovered diseases in a population. We consider the case in which the nodes in the network change their links due to social mixing dynamics as well as in response to the disease. The model shows the behavior that, as we increase social mixing, disease spread is inhibited in certain cases, while in other cases it is enhanced. We also extend this dynamic network model to take into account the case of hidden infection. Here we find that, as expected, the disease spreads more readily if there is a time period after contracting the disease during which an individual is infective but is not known to have the disease.
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Bell DC, Erbaugh EB, Serrano T, Dayton-Shotts CA, Montoya ID. A comparison of network sampling designs for a hidden population of drug users: Random walk vs. respondent-driven sampling. SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH 2017; 62:350-361. [PMID: 28126110 DOI: 10.1016/j.ssresearch.2016.08.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2014] [Revised: 07/01/2016] [Accepted: 08/25/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Both random walk and respondent-driven sampling (RDS) exploit social networks and may reduce biases introduced by earlier methods for sampling from hidden populations. Although RDS has become much more widely used by social researchers than random walk (RW), there has been little discussion of the tradeoffs in choosing RDS over RW. This paper compares experiences of implementing RW and RDS to recruit drug users to a network-based study in Houston, Texas. Both recruitment methods were implemented over comparable periods of time, with the same population, by the same research staff. RDS methods recruited more participants with less strain on staff. However, participants recruited through RW were more forthcoming than RDS participants in helping to recruit members of their social networks. Findings indicate that, dependent upon study goals, researchers' choice of design may influence participant recruitment, participant commitment, and impact on staff, factors that may in turn affect overall study success.
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Affiliation(s)
- David C Bell
- Department of Sociology, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, 425 University Blvd, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA.
| | - Elizabeth B Erbaugh
- Sociology and Anthropology, Stockton University, School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, 101 Vera King Farris Drive, Galloway, NJ 08205, USA.
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42
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O’Malley AJ, Onnela JP. Introduction to Social Network Analysis. Health Serv Res 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-6704-9_15-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022] Open
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Rice LJ, Halbert CH. Social Networks Across Common Cancer Types: The Evidence, Gaps, and Areas of Potential Impact. Adv Cancer Res 2017; 133:95-128. [PMID: 28052823 DOI: 10.1016/bs.acr.2016.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Although the association between social context and health has been demonstrated previously, much less is known about network interactions by gender, race/ethnicity, and sociodemographic characteristics. Given the variability in cancer outcomes among groups, research on these relationships may have important implications for addressing cancer health disparities. We examined the literature on social networks and cancer across the cancer continuum among adults. Relevant studies (N=16) were identified using two common databases: PubMed and Google Scholar. Most studies used a prospective cohort study design (n=9), included women only (n=11), and were located in the United States (n=14). Seventy-five percent of the studies reviewed used a validated scale or validated items to measure social networks (n=12). Only one study examined social network differences by race, 57.1% (n=8) focused on breast cancer alone, 14.3% (n=2) explored colorectal cancer or multiple cancers simultaneously, and 7.1% (n=1) only prostate cancer. More than half of the studies included multiple ethnicities in the sample, while one study included only low-income subjects. Despite findings of associations between social networks and cancer survival, risk, and screening, none of the studies utilized social networks as a mechanism for reducing health disparities; however, such an approach has been utilized for infectious disease control. Social networks and the support provided within these networks have important implications for health behaviors and ultimately cancer disparities. This review serves as the first step toward dialog on social networks as a missing component in the social determinants of cancer disparities literature that could move the needle upstream to target adverse cancer outcomes among vulnerable populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- L J Rice
- Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States.
| | - C H Halbert
- Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States; Ralph H. Johnson Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Charleston, SC, United States
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Keeling MJ, House T, Cooper AJ, Pellis L. Systematic Approximations to Susceptible-Infectious-Susceptible Dynamics on Networks. PLoS Comput Biol 2016; 12:e1005296. [PMID: 27997542 PMCID: PMC5283726 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1005296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2016] [Revised: 01/31/2017] [Accepted: 12/09/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Network-based infectious disease models have been highly effective in elucidating the role of contact structure in the spread of infection. As such, pair- and neighbourhood-based approximation models have played a key role in linking findings from network simulations to standard (random-mixing) results. Recently, for SIR-type infections (that produce one epidemic in a closed population) on locally tree-like networks, these approximations have been shown to be exact. However, network models are ideally suited for Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) due to the greater level of detail available for sexual contact networks, and these diseases often possess SIS-type dynamics. Here, we consider the accuracy of three systematic approximations that can be applied to arbitrary disease dynamics, including SIS behaviour. We focus in particular on low degree networks, in which the small number of neighbours causes build-up of local correlations between the state of adjacent nodes that are challenging to capture. By examining how and when these approximation models converge to simulation results, we generate insights into the role of network structure in the infection dynamics of SIS-type infections. Networks are now widely used to model infectious diseases, but have posed significant mathematical challenges. Recently analytic results have been obtained for ‘one-off’ network epidemics that follow the SIR paradigm, but these results do not carry over to other scenarios—most significantly to many sexually transmitted infections, where accounting for network structure is vital. Here, we show that it is possible to obtain the large-population dynamics of such diseases on networks through systematic approximations. We focus on a mathematically challenging case of SIS dynamics on networks with low degree.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matt J. Keeling
- Zeeman Institute: SBIDER, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
- Mathematics Institute, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| | - Thomas House
- Zeeman Institute: SBIDER, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
- Mathematics Institute, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
- School of Mathematics, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Alison J. Cooper
- School of Engineering, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
| | - Lorenzo Pellis
- Zeeman Institute: SBIDER, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
- Mathematics Institute, University of Warwick, Coventry, United Kingdom
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45
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Noppert GA, Kubale JT, Wilson ML. Analyses of infectious disease patterns and drivers largely lack insights from social epidemiology: contemporary patterns and future opportunities. J Epidemiol Community Health 2016; 71:350-355. [PMID: 27799618 DOI: 10.1136/jech-2016-207967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2016] [Revised: 10/03/2016] [Accepted: 10/16/2016] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Infectious disease epidemiologists have long recognised the importance of social variables as drivers of epidemics and disease risk, yet few apply analytic approaches from social epidemiology. We quantified and evaluated the extent to which recent infectious disease research is employing the perspectives and methods of social epidemiology by replicating the methodology used by Cohen et al in a 2007 study. METHODS 2 search strategies were used to identify and review articles published from 1 January 2005 to 31 December 2013. First, we performed a keyword search of 'social epidemiology' in the title/abstract/text of published studies identified in PubMed, PsychInfo and ISI Web of Science, and classified each study as pertaining to infectious, non-infectious or other outcomes. A second PubMed search identified articles that were cross-referenced under non-infectious or infectious, and search terms relating to social variables. The abstracts of all articles were read, classified and examined to identify patterns over time. RESULTS Findings suggest that infectious disease research publications that explicitly or implicitly incorporate social epidemiological approaches have stagnated in recent years. While the number of publications that were explicitly self-classified as 'social epidemiology' has risen, the proportion that investigated infectious disease outcomes has declined. Furthermore, infectious diseases accounted for the smallest proportion of articles that were cross-referenced with Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms related to social factors, and most of these involved sexually transmitted diseases. CONCLUSIONS The current landscape of infectious disease epidemiology could benefit from new approaches to understanding how the social and biophysical environment sustains transmission and exacerbates disparities. The framework of social epidemiology provides infectious disease researchers with such a perspective and research opportunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace A Noppert
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.,Postdoctoral Scholar, Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - John T Kubale
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Mark L Wilson
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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46
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McCloskey RM, Liang RH, Poon AFY. Reconstructing contact network parameters from viral phylogenies. Virus Evol 2016; 2:vew029. [PMID: 27818787 PMCID: PMC5094293 DOI: 10.1093/ve/vew029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Models of the spread of disease in a population often make the simplifying assumption that the population is homogeneously mixed, or is divided into homogeneously mixed compartments. However, human populations have complex structures formed by social contacts, which can have a significant influence on the rate of epidemic spread. Contact network models capture this structure by explicitly representing each contact which could possibly lead to a transmission. We developed a method based on approximate Bayesian computation (ABC), a likelihood-free inference strategy, for estimating structural parameters of the contact network underlying an observed viral phylogeny. The method combines adaptive sequential Monte Carlo for ABC, Gillespie simulation for propagating epidemics though networks, and a kernel-based tree similarity score. We used the method to fit the Barabási-Albert network model to simulated transmission trees, and also applied it to viral phylogenies estimated from ten published HIV sequence datasets. This model incorporates a feature called preferential attachment (PA), whereby individuals with more existing contacts accumulate new contacts at a higher rate. On simulated data, we found that the strength of PA and the number of infected nodes in the network can often be accurately estimated. On the other hand, the mean degree of the network, as well as the total number of nodes, was not estimable with ABC. We observed sub-linear PA power in all datasets, as well as higher PA power in networks of injection drug users. These results underscore the importance of considering contact structures when performing phylodynamic inference. Our method offers the potential to quantitatively investigate the contact network structure underlying viral epidemics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Art F Y Poon
- BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, Canada; Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
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47
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Schensul JJ, Burkholder GJ. Vulnerability, Social Networks, Sites, and Selling as Predictors of Drug use among Urban African American and Puerto Rican Emerging Adults. JOURNAL OF DRUG ISSUES 2016. [DOI: 10.1177/002204260503500208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
This paper reviews the results of research conducted with African American and Puerto Rican emerging adults between the ages of 18 and 25 whose life experiences increase vulnerability to drug use and pose some significant challenges in achieving milestones widely recognized as important in achieving adult status. Literature on drug use in adolescence suggests that personal vulnerability accounts for most experimental and problem drug use. Included in the vulnerability construct are religiosity, perceived risk, social influence, drug access, social norms, and social risk defined primarily as exposure to various forms of violence. This study shows that personal vulnerability explains only some of the variance in use and predicts variance differently with respect to different specific drugs and polydrug use. Further, it argues that additional contextual factors including social networks, party and club attendance, and drug selling activities, all typical of emerging adulthood and urban lifestyle, are also important factors in enhancing potential for accelerated drug use during this developmental period. Finally, it notes that the consequences of these activities have implications for further economic and social marginalization of urban, multiethnic low income emerging adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean J. Schensul
- Medical anthropologist and founder and director of the Institute for Community Research
| | - Gary J. Burkholder
- Faculty Chair for Student Success, School of Psychology, Walden University
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48
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Wilson FA, Miller TL, Stimpson JP. Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Infection, Immigration Status, and Diagnostic Discordance: A Comparison of Tuberculin Skin Test and QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube Test Among Immigrants to the U.S. Public Health Rep 2016; 131:303-10. [PMID: 26957665 DOI: 10.1177/003335491613100214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We used a recent source of nationally representative population data on tuberculosis (TB) infection to characterize concordance between the tuberculin skin test (TST) and the QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT-GIT) blood test for immigrants in the United States. METHODS We used TB screening data from the 2011-2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to examine concordance between the TST and QFT-GIT--an interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) blood test--for 7,097 U.S. natives, naturalized citizens, and noncitizens. RESULTS Consistent with prior findings, one in five immigrants in the survey was identified with latent TB infection (LTBI), a rate 14 times higher than for U.S. natives. We also found higher rates of discordant TST/IGRA results among immigrants than among U.S. natives. Unadjusted discordance between TST and IGRA was 3% among U.S. natives (weighted N=5,684,274 of 191,179,213) but ranged up to 19% for noncitizens (weighted N=3,722,960 of 19,377,147). Adjusting for age, sex, and race/ethnicity, noncitizens had more than nine times the odds of having a positive TST result but negative QFT-GIT result compared with U.S. natives. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that whether and how either of these tests should be deployed is highly context sensitive. Significant discordance in test results when used among immigrants raises the possibility of missed opportunities for harm reduction in this already at-risk population. However, we found little distinction between the tests in terms of diagnostic outcome when used in a U.S. native population, suggesting little benefit to the adoption and use of the QFT-GIT test in place of TST on the basis of test performance alone for this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando A Wilson
- University of Nebraska Medical Center, Department of Health Services Research and Administration, Omaha, NE
| | - Thaddeus L Miller
- University of North Texas Health Science Center, Department of Health Management and Policy, Fort Worth, TX
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McCullough JM, Eisen-Cohen E, Salas SB. Partnership capacity for community health improvement plan implementation: findings from a social network analysis. BMC Public Health 2016; 16:566. [PMID: 27411474 PMCID: PMC4944444 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-016-3194-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2015] [Accepted: 06/08/2016] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Many health departments collaborate with community organizations on community health improvement processes. While a number of resources exist to plan and implement a community health improvement plan (CHIP), little empirical evidence exists on how to leverage and expand partnerships when implementing a CHIP. The purpose of this study was to identify characteristics of the network involved in implementing the CHIP in one large community. The aims of this analysis are to: 1) identify essential network partners (and thereby highlight potential network gaps), 2) gauge current levels of partner involvement, 3) understand and effectively leverage network resources, and 4) enable a data-driven approach for future collaborative network improvements. Methods We collected primary data via survey from n = 41 organizations involved in the Health Improvement Partnership of Maricopa County (HIPMC), in Arizona. Using the previously validated Program to Analyze, Record, and Track Networks to Enhance Relationships (PARTNER) tool, organizations provided information on existing ties with other coalition members, including frequency and depth of partnership and eight categories of perceived value/trust of each current partner organization. Results The coalition’s overall network had a density score of 30 %, degree centralization score of 73 %, and trust score of 81 %. Network maps are presented to identify existing relationships between HIPMC members according to partnership frequency and intensity, duration of involvement in the coalition, and self-reported contributions to the coalition. Overall, number of ties and other partnership measures were positively correlated with an organization’s perceived value and trustworthiness as rated by other coalition members. Conclusions Our study presents a novel use of social network analysis methods to evaluate the coalition of organizations involved in implementing a CHIP in an urban community. The large coalition had relatively low network density but high degree centralization—meaning key organizations link organizations otherwise not tightly partnering. Coalition members rated each other highly on trust, a positive sign for future partnership development efforts. Examination of network maps reveal key organizations that can be targeted for future partnership facilitation and expansion. Future network data collection will enable exploration of longitudinal trends and exploration of network characteristics versus health behavior, status, and outcome changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Mac McCullough
- School for the Science of Health Care Delivery, Arizona State University, 550 N 3rd Street, Phoenix, AZ, 85004, USA. .,Maricopa County Department of Public Health, 4041 N Central Avenue, Phoenix, AZ, 85012, USA.
| | - Eileen Eisen-Cohen
- Maricopa County Department of Public Health, 4041 N Central Avenue, Phoenix, AZ, 85012, USA
| | - S Bianca Salas
- Maricopa County Department of Public Health, 4041 N Central Avenue, Phoenix, AZ, 85012, USA
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Mason WA, Conrey FR, Smith ER. Situating Social Influence Processes: Dynamic, Multidirectional Flows of Influence Within Social Networks. PERSONALITY AND SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY REVIEW 2016; 11:279-300. [DOI: 10.1177/1088868307301032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 174] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Social psychologists have studied the psychological processes involved in persuasion, conformity, and other forms of social influence, but they have rarely modeled the ways influence processes play out when multiple sources and multiple targets of influence interact over time. However, workers in other fields from sociology and economics to cognitive science and physics have recognized the importance of social influence and have developed models of influence flow in populations and groups—generally without relying on detailed social psychological findings. This article reviews models of social influence from a number of fields, categorizing them using four conceptual dimensions to delineate the universe of possible models. The goal is to encourage interdisciplinary collaborations to build models that incorporate the detailed, microlevel understanding of influence processes derived from focused laboratory studies but contextualized in ways that recognize how multidirectional, dynamic influences are situated in people's social networks and relationships.
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