Social Network Strategy Helps Reach High Risk Populations With Undiagnosed HIV Infection

Main Category: HIV / AIDS
Article Date: 17 Apr 2009 - 5:00 PDT

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The use of social networks is an effective method for reaching persons with undiagnosed HIV infection, a new study finds.

Researchers evaluated the use of social networks to reach persons with undiagnosed HIV infection in ethnic minority communities and link them to medical care and HIV prevention services. Nine community-based organizations in seven cities (San Francisco, Washington, D.C., Lafayette, Boston, New York City, Orlando and Philadelphia) were funded by the CDC to enlist HIV-positive persons to refer others from their social, sexual, or drug-using networks for HIV testing; to provide HIV counseling, testing and referral services; and to link HIV-positive and high-risk HIV-negative persons to appropriate medical care and prevention services.

From 2003-2005, 422 recruiters referred 3,172 of their peers for HIV services. Of the 177 determined to be HIV positive, 63% (111 persons) were successfully linked to medical care and prevention services.

"Show that a peer-driven, network-orientated strategy can be a powerful tool for identifying persons with undiagnosed HIV infection in populations that may be difficult to reach with other methods." The American Journal of Public Health is the monthly Journal of the American Public Health Association (APHA).

Source
The American Journal of Public Health

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