Social network analysis and high risk behavior characteristics of recreational drug users：a qualitative study
10.3760/cma.j.issn.0253-9624.2014.11.004
- VernacularTitle:合成毒品使用者行为特征、社交网络的定性研究
- Author:
Di WU
1
;
Zhenhong WANG
;
Zhenxia JIANG
;
Xiaojing FU
;
Hui LI
;
Dapeng ZHANG
;
Hui LIU
;
Yifei HU
Author Information
1. 中国疾病预防控制中心性病艾滋病预防控制中心
- Keywords:
HIV;
Qualitative research;
Recreational drug use;
Social network analysis
- From:
Chinese Journal of Preventive Medicine
2014;(11):938-941
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective To understand the characteristics of recreational drug users′behaviors and social network, as well as their potential impact to the transmission of sexual transmitted infections (STI). Methods Qualitative interview was used to collect information on rough estimation of population size and behavior change before and after recreational drug use.A total of 120 participants were recruited by convenient sampling from April to October , 2013 in a community of Qingdao city.Blood specimens were taken for HIV/syphilis serological testing and social network analysis was performed to understand the characteristics of their behavior and social network.Results All participants used methamphetamine and 103 of them showed social connection.The prevalence of syphilis and HIV were 24.2%( 29/120 ) and 2.5%(3/120) respectively.The estimated size of recreational drug users was big with a wide diversity of occupations and age range , and males were more frequent than females .Drug use may affect condom use and frequent drug users showed symptom of psychosis and neuro-toxicities.The size of social network was 2.45 ± 1.63 in the past 6 months, which indicated an increasing trend of the sexual partner number and risky behaviors .Conclusion Recreational drug use could increase the size of social network among sex partners , the frequency of risky sexual behaviors and syphilis prevalence , which indicate a high risk of HIV/STI among this population as well as a huge burden of disease prevention and control in the future .
