Identification of venues for HIV prevention interventions through overlapping HIV transmission and venue elicitation networks

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Understanding the role of physical venues in HIV transmission may be advantageous for targeting HIV prevention efforts, especially among groups experiencing high HIV incidence. SETTING: Large public clinic in Mexico City, Mexico. METHODS: We analyzed data from 7,502 participants examining demographic, behavioral, and venue network characteristics associated with molecular HIV cluster membership (potentially indicating recent HIV transmission events). Participants nominated venues where they met partners. We constructed a co-affiliation network by linking venues that were co-nominated by the same individuals and analyzed this network for centrality and clustering within the HIV transmission network. RESULTS: Approximately 51% of participants were part of a molecular HIV cluster. Several venues exhibited both high centrality and high proportions of nominators in HIV clusters, identifying them as priority sites for intervention. Venues with higher eigenvector centrality (influence) and with more nominations had higher odds of being named by individuals in HIV clusters (OR 2.53; 95% CI: 1.45-4.41) and (OR 1.01; 95% CI: 1.01-1.02) respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Venue-based network analysis revealed high-priority sites for HIV prevention, underscoring the importance of targeting interventions at highly connected venues. Incorporating venue-level strategies into HIV prevention efforts may help reduce transmission within and across sexual networks. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: N/A.