Abstract: Social Network Member's Characteristics and HIV Disclosure in Networks of HIV Positive Women: A Social Network Analysis (Society for Social Work and Research 21st Annual Conference - Ensure Healthy Development for all Youth)

Schedule:

Friday, January 13, 2017: 2:15 PM

Preservation Hall Studio 5 (New Orleans Marriott)

* noted as presenting author

Jaih Craddock, MSW, MA, Doctoral Student, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA

Wichada Hantanachaikul, MPH, CHES, Doctoral Student, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA

Eric Rice, PhD, Associate Professor, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA

Julie Cederbaum, MSW, MPH, PhD, Assistant Professor, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA

Background: Previous work found that disclosure is higher for women living with HIV (WLH) when more social support in social networks is reported. Yet, few studies have examined women’s disclosure to network members and only one study examined disclosure differences across social network ties. This study builds on previous research by examining WLH disclosure differences across their networks and by evaluating relationships between network member characteristics, types of support and disclosure.

Method: Pilot data were collected from 47 WLH. To gather social network data, the interviewer used the Social Network Interview iPad application. Measures included disclosure of HIV-status and perceived social support. Basic demographics were collected via a complimentary survey. Statistical analysis proceeded in two stages, descriptive statistics and Hierarchical Linear Modeling.

Results: There were a total of 722 dyadic relationships, with an average of 17.61 network members. Women disclosed at an average of 64.95%. A majority, 80.89%, of network members provided emotional support, however neither emotional support nor instrumental support were significant predictors of HIV disclosure. Women were 4 times more likely to disclose to people they had close relationships with and 26 times more likely to disclose to people they perceived were HIV positive. Church members were the only social members listed with a decreased likelihood of being disclosed to (97%). Surprisingly, significant others as well as family members were not significant in the disclosure model.

Conclusions: Few studies have systematically collected social network data, limiting our understanding of network characteristics and ways in which networks impacts disclosure. This study indicated that the type of relationships women have with their network members (i.e. a person she is close to, she believes is HIV positive) may be more important in understanding to whom women disclose, when accounting for types of support provided or who they are to the women (i.e. significant other, sister, brother, mother, child). Future HIV intervention work should consider including close friends and other HIV positive persons in the interventions to assist with access to HIV-related care and treatment adherence.