Identifying Biomarkers for Important Nodes in Networks of Sexual and Drug Activity

摘要

This paper uses network science techniques to evaluate the SATHCAP dataset concerning HIV and drug use. A referral network is generated via respondent-driven sampling, which is used to identify important bridge nodes that are responsible for maintaining the structure of large connected components of sexual and drug-using activity. These nodes are scrutinized to determine biomarkers and social factors that distinguish them from the underlying population. It is found that attributes such as homelessness and sexual abuse are more prevalent in these bridge nodes. These nodes are ill-served by public health efforts, because they are hard to reach and difficult to identify. Intervention campaigns targeted at groups displaying these attributes could meaningfully lower the spread of HIV.