HIV Clients as Agents for Prevention: A Social Network Solution
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Date
2012
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
AIDS research and treatment
Abstract
HIV prevention efforts to date have not explored the potential for persons living with HIV to act as change agents for prevention
behaviour in their social networks. Using egocentric social network analysis, this study examined the prevalence and social network
correlates of prevention advocacy behaviours (discussing HIV in general; encouraging abstinence or condomuse, HIV testing, and
seeking HIV care) enacted by 39 HIV clients in Uganda. Participants engaged in each prevention advocacy behaviour with roughly
50–70% of the members in their network. The strongest determinant of engaging in prevention advocacy with more of one’s
network members was having a greater proportion of network members who knew one’s HIV seropositive status, as this was
associated with three of the four advocacy behaviours. These findings highlight the potential for PLHA to be key change agents for
HIV prevention within their networks and the importance of HIV disclosure in facilitating prevention advocacy.
Description
Keywords
HIV Clients, Agents, Social Network Solution
Citation
Ssali, S., Wagner, G., Tumwine, C., Nannungi, A., & Green, H. (2012). HIV clients as agents for prevention: a social network solution. AIDS research and treatment , 2012 . doi:10.1155/2012/815823