Drug Users’ Willingness to Encourage Social, Sexual, and Drug Network Members to Receive an HIV Vaccine: A Social Network Analysis

Abstract

This study examined feasibility of peer-based promotion of HIV vaccination and dyadic correlates to vaccine encouragement in risk- and non-risk networks of drug users (n = 433) in the US. Data were collected on HIV vaccine attitudes, risk compensation intentions, likelihood of encouraging vaccination, and recent (past 6 months) risk (i.e. involving sex and/or injecting drugs) and non-risk (i.e. involving co-usage of noninjected drugs and/or social support) relationships. Willingness to encourage HIV vaccination was reported in 521 and 555 risk- and non-risk relationships, respectively. However, 37 % expressed hesitancy, typically due to fear of side effects or social concerns. Encouragement was often motivated by perceived HIV risk, though 9 % were motivated by risk compensation intentions. In non-risk partnerships, encouragement was associated with drug co-usage, and in risk relationships, with perceived vaccine acceptability and encouragement by the partner. Network-based HIV vaccine promotion may be a successful strategy, but risk compensation intentions should be explored.

Hepatitis C vaccine clinical trials among people who use drugs: potential for participation and involvement in recruitment

“…Interestingly, similar research in this setting revealed that men were somewhat less willing to encourage HIV vaccination among peers but more likely to receive encouragement to get vaccinated (37). Together, these findings highlight the instrumental role that women may play in disseminating positive vaccine messages among their drug-using peers.…”

“…In addition, participants were asked only about their WEP among drug-using peers in general and not on a partner-by-partner basis. Given previous research that suggests selectivity in vaccine communication among social, sexual and drug network members (37), future studies should examine not only if participants will encourage trial participation but to whom . Nevertheless, it is notable that indication of strong willingness to encourage trial participation among peers was present in nearly half the sample.…”

“…The data used for this analysis were collected during the 24-month assessment of the longitudinal Social Networks among Appalachian People study (described in detail elsewhere (37)). Participants (n=503) were recruited using respondent-driven sampling and, to be eligible for participation, were required to be 18 or older, reside in Appalachian Kentucky, and to have used prescription opioids, heroin, crack/cocaine, or methamphetamine "to get high" in the prior 30 days.…”

Relationship-level analysis of drug users' anticipated changes in risk behavior following HIV vaccination

“…Sample demographic and behavioral characteristics have been reported elsewhere (Young, DiClemente, et al, 2014a, 2014b; Young, Halgin, et al, 2014). Participants were predominantly White (94%), male (55%), and unmarried (75%).…”

“…A questionnaire to examine attitudes toward HIV vaccination and risk compensation intent was administered during participants’ 24-month assessment; the data from this questionnaire were used for the analyses presented below. Details on the HIV vaccine survey methods have been described previously (Young, DiClemente, Halgin, Sterk, & Havens, 2014a, 2014b; Young, Halgin, et al, 2014). All participants tested HIV negative at the 24-month visit.…”