Use of dynamic network models to explore the role of social media use in HIV transmission and health promotion among gay men and other MSM

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The majority of HIV transmission takes place between individuals via sexual contacts. At a population level, these partnerships can be viewed as connected into a dynamic sexual partnership network, whose structural and compositional characteristics influence, and are influenced by, the HIV epidemic. Although this is well understood, lack of data and a framework for utilising sampled network data and strategies for translating simulation findings into health promotion strategies has prevented the use of data-driven dynamic network mathematical models to inform the design of interventions in specific settings. The way that individuals seek and form sexual partnerships is changing in many settings, and so plausibly are the characteristics of the sexual partnership network. A rapid rise in the use of online social media is occurring not only in high income settings, but also in sub-Saharan Africa. It is now both critical and feasible to develop a framework for data-driven dynamic partnership network models of HIV transmission, to understand the intersection of HIV acquisition and transmission risk with online socialising and partner-seeking, and to ensure that HIV prevention and engagement in care interventions can be most effectively designed and targeted.A key group affected by HIV across the world is men who have sex with men (MSM), including in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Studies of MSM in SSA have found high HIV prevalence and incidence, alongside widespread experience of social stigma, violence, harassment and poor access to sexual health services. The incentives for MSM to socialise and seek partners online are high, and correspondingly, there is great potential to use online social media venues to provide information or referrals for in-person HIV prevention, testing and care services. This project will use unique and current data on sexual partnerships, online and offline-initiated, HIV status and engagement in care, and social media use from representative samples of MSM from Nairobi and Johannesburg to develop dynamic network models of HIV transmission, explore the potential role of social media use in HIV transmission, and bring networks-based insight to improve targeting of health promotion and inform intervention development and future research to reduce HIV incidence.