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Social/Sexual Networks of People Newly Diagnosed with HIV in Ibadan, Nigeria

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Abstract

Young men who have sex with men (YMSM) in Nigeria are ten times more likely to be living with HIV-1 than other young men. Due to stigma and criminalization of same-sex sexual behavior, YMSM sexual networks are likely to overlap with those of the general population, leading to a generalized HIV-1 epidemic. Due to limited research on social/sexual network dynamics related to HIV-1 in Nigeria, our study focused on YMSM and sought to assess the feasibility and acceptability of collecting social and sexual network data in Network Canvas from individuals newly diagnosed with HIV-1 in Ibadan, Nigeria. The Network Canvas software was piloted at three sites in Ibadan, Nigeria to collect social/sexual network data from 151 individuals newly diagnosed with HIV-1. Our study sample included 37.7% YMSM; participants reported a mean of 2.6 social alters and 2.6 sexual alters. From the 151 egos and 634 alters, 85 potential unique individuals (194 total) were identified; 65 egos/alters were collapsed into 25 unique individuals. Our success collecting network data from individuals newly diagnosed with HIV-1 in Ibadan demonstrates clear feasibility and acceptability of the approach and the use of Network Canvas to capture and manage these data.

Resumen

Los hombres jóvenes que tienen sexo con hombres (HSHJ) en Nigeria tienen diez veces más probabilidades de vivir con el VIH-1 que otros hombres jóvenes. Debido al estigma y la criminalización de las relaciones sexuales entre personas del mismo sexo en Nigeria, es probable que las redes sexuales de HSHJ en dicho país se superpongan con las de la población general, lo que lleva a una epidemia generalizada de VIH-1. Debido al limitado conocimiento sobre la dinámica de las redes sociales/sexuales relacionadas con el VIH-1 en Nigeria, nuestro estudio se centró en HSHJ y buscó evaluar la viabilidad y aceptabilidad del uso de Network Canvas para la recopilación de datos sobre redes sociales y sexuales de personas recién diagnosticadas con VIH-1 en Ibadan, Nigeria. El programa Network Canvas se puso a prueba en tres emplazamientos localizados en Ibadan, Nigeria, para recopilar datos de redes sociales/sexuales obtenidos de 151 personas recién diagnosticadas con VIH-1. Nuestra muestra de estudio incluyó 37.7% HSHJ; los participantes informaron de una media de 2,6 alteri sociales y 2,6 alteri sexuales. De los 151 egos y 634 alteri, se identificaron 85 posibles individuos únicos (194 en total); 65 egos/alteri se colapsaron en 25 individuos únicos. El éxito en la recopilación de datos de la red de personas recién diagnosticadas con VIH-1 en Ibadan demuestra claramente la viabilidad y aceptabilidad de nuestra estrategia y el uso de Network Canvas para capturar y administrar este tipo de información.

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Funding

This work was supported by UG3 HD096920; UH3 HD096920; UG3 HD096920-02S1; and D43 TW009608.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Social Sciences, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA

    Gregory Phillips II, Anthony E. Rodriguez-Ortiz, Katelyn Banner & Michelle Birkett

  2. College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria

    Olubusuyi M. Adewumi, Olutosin A. Awolude & Oluseyi A. Olayinka

  3. Department of Family Medicine, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria

    Adedotun Adetunji

  4. Center for Pathogen Genomics and Microbial Evolution, Northwestern University Institute for Global Health, Chicago, IL, USA

    Lacy M. Simons, Judd F. Hultquist, Egon A. Ozer & Ramon Lorenzo-Redondo

  5. Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA

    Lacy M. Simons, Judd F. Hultquist, Egon A. Ozer, Babafemi Taiwo & Ramon Lorenzo-Redondo

  6. The Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, MD, USA

    Bill Kapogiannis

  7. Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA

    Lisa M. Kuhns & Robert Garofalo

  8. Department of Pediatrics, Division of Adolescent Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA

    Lisa M. Kuhns & Robert Garofalo

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  1. Gregory Phillips II
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  2. Anthony E. Rodriguez-Ortiz
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Correspondence to Gregory Phillips II.

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Phillips II, G., Rodriguez-Ortiz, A.E., Adewumi, O.M. et al. Social/Sexual Networks of People Newly Diagnosed with HIV in Ibadan, Nigeria. AIDS Behav 28, 300–309 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-023-04200-2

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