Assessing the Validity of Sexual Network Degree Among Men Who Have Sex with Men Using Prospective Cohort Data Público

Uong, Stephen (Spring 2018)

Permanent URL: https://etd.library.emory.edu/concern/etds/r494vk213?locale=pt-BR
Published

Abstract

Background: Sexual network degree (count of ongoing partners) plays a critical role in HIV/STI transmission dynamics. It is typically measured using cross-sectional data, which may result in biased estimates because of uncertainty about future predictions about partnerships.

Methods: We evaluated the validity of a cross-sectional degree measure with a prospective cohort study of men who have sex with men (MSM). At baseline, men were asked about recent sexual partnerships, and the ongoing status of those partnerships was reevaluated at 6-month follow-up. With Poisson regression, we quantified the confirmed degree as a function of baseline degree. With logistic regression, we assessed the overall probability and predictors of agreement between degree measured at these two time points.

Results: Baseline degree of all partnership types was over-predictive of confirmed degree reported at 6-month follow-up for values of 1 up to 5 for baseline degree and under-predictive for values of 0 for baseline degree in stratified and unstratified models. Confirmed degree was predicted to be 0.28, 0.59, and 1.25 with a baseline degree of 0, 1, and 2 among main partnerships, respectively. Confirmed degree was predicted to be 0.26, 0.44, 0.74, 1.24, 2.09, and 3.51 with a baseline degree of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 among casual partnerships, respectively. The odds of reported ongoing status agreement were 1.41 (95% CI, 0.96, 2.07) and 1.85 (95% CI, 1.06, 3.21) times as that in white-white compared to black-black partnerships and in those who had agreement of partnership exclusivity compared to those who had no agreement, respectively.

Conclusion: Network degree may be overestimated in most cases if measured with cross-sectional study designs. Future studies and prevention interventions depending on degree measures should account for this bias through adjustment of their estimates.

Table of Contents

Introduction .......................................... 1

Methods ............................................... 3

Study Design .................................. 3

Measures ........................................ 4

Statistical Analysis ........................... 5

Results ................................................. 6

Discussion ............................................ 10

References ........................................... 15

Tables .................................................. 19

Table 1 ........................................... 19

Table 2 ........................................... 20

Table 3 ........................................... 21

Table 4 ........................................... 22

Figures ................................................. 23

Figure 1 .......................................... 23

Figure 2 .......................................... 24

 

About this Master's Thesis

Rights statement
  • Permission granted by the author to include this thesis or dissertation in this repository. All rights reserved by the author. Please contact the author for information regarding the reproduction and use of this thesis or dissertation.
School
Department
Degree
Submission
Language
  • English
Research Field
Palavra-chave
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor
Partnering Agencies
Última modificação

Primary PDF

Supplemental Files