Richard Rothenberg1, Stephen Q Muth. 1. Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30303, USA. rrothen@emory.edu
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To compare 15 completed network studies of STD/HIV transmission with regard to their structural characteristics. To determine similarities and differences in the network characteristics in different epidemiologic settings. STUDY DESIGN: Combined analysis of nearly 40,000 dyads, using epidemiologic and network analytic methods. RESULTS: In general, transmitting networks have a right-skewed degree distribution, a large single component, and small world characteristics. They vary with regard to concurrency, assortativity, and transitivity. CONCLUSIONS: The analysis suggests that networks in which transmission takes place have a common network infrastructure, but that the actual level of transmission may be determined by factors specific to a study population. Specific quantitation of the relationship between transmission and network characteristics will require an amalgam of empirical and theoretical methods.
OBJECTIVES: To compare 15 completed network studies of STD/HIV transmission with regard to their structural characteristics. To determine similarities and differences in the network characteristics in different epidemiologic settings. STUDY DESIGN: Combined analysis of nearly 40,000 dyads, using epidemiologic and network analytic methods. RESULTS: In general, transmitting networks have a right-skewed degree distribution, a large single component, and small world characteristics. They vary with regard to concurrency, assortativity, and transitivity. CONCLUSIONS: The analysis suggests that networks in which transmission takes place have a common network infrastructure, but that the actual level of transmission may be determined by factors specific to a study population. Specific quantitation of the relationship between transmission and network characteristics will require an amalgam of empirical and theoretical methods.
Authors: Irene A Doherty; Adaora A Adimora; Stephen Q Muth; Marc L Serre; Peter A Leone; William C Miller Journal: Sex Transm Dis Date: 2011-05 Impact factor: 2.830
Authors: Irene A Doherty; Marc L Serre; Dionne Gesink; Adaora A Adimora; Stephen Q Muth; Peter A Leone; William C Miller Journal: Epidemiology Date: 2012-11 Impact factor: 4.822