Protocol for a Respondent-Driven Sampling Study Exploring the Roles of Peer Norms in HIV-Related Practices of Gay Men

作     者：Iryna Zablotska John de Wit Graham Brown Bruce Maycock Christopher Fairley Michelle McKechnie Garrett Prestage 

作者机构：Curtin University Bentley Australia Melbourne School of Population Health University of Melbourne and Melbourne Sexual Health Centre Melbourne Australia National Centre in HIV Social Research University of New South Wales Paddington Australia The Australian Research Centre in Sex Health and Society La Trobe University Melbourne Australia Curtin University Bentley Australia The Kirby Institute University of New South Wales Paddington Australia The Kirby Institute University of New South Wales Paddington Australia The Australian Research Centre in Sex Health and Society La Trobe University Melbourne Australia 

出 版 物：《World Journal of AIDS》 (艾滋病（英文）)

年 卷 期：2013年第3卷第4期

页      面：320-326页

学科分类：1002[医学-临床医学] 100214[医学-肿瘤学] 10[医学] 

主　　题：HIV GMSM Networks Behaviour Community Norms 

摘      要：Introduction: Sexual behaviour among gay and other men who have sex with men (GMSM) is influenced by the shared understanding of HIV/STI risk and peer norms regarding sexual behaviour. However, there is little research evidence to support this relationship. The unique geographic spread of Australian communities, the history of Australian HIV epidemic and the different patterns in risky sexual practices and HIV diagnoses across Australia present an opportunity to explore the role of social norms and GMSM behaviours in shaping different patterns of HIV epidemics. We describe the protocol of the study of contemporary norms in networks and communities of GMSM (CONNECT) which investigates gay community behavioural norms and practices. Methods: CONNECT is aimed to 1) identify the patterns of connections between individuals in GMSM communities and assess how they shape HIV-related behaviours;2) describe the relationship between social norms and sexual practices;and 3) compare the norms and patterns of behaviour in geographically and epidemiologically distinct GMSM populations in three Australian states New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia, in order to identify local community norms and barriers to effective HIV prevention. This quantitative cross-sectional study uses respondent-driven sampling (RDS) for recruitment. Results: Analyses will be carried out on individual and community level and will investigate the relationship between community-level behavioural norms and associated practices of individuals. Conclusion: CONNECT is anticipated to inform HIV prevention services to better target and increase the effectiveness of the current health promotion for GMSM in the context of increasing HIV/STI incidence.