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Sexual Networks and Sexually Transmitted Infections; “The Strength of Weak (Long Distance) Ties”

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The New Public Health and STD/HIV Prevention

Abstract

Social networks are natural social units of people (nodes, actors) linked directly or indirectly to others by interaction, affections, associations or relationships and, for the purposes of this chapter, sexual intercourse. Sexual networks through which sexually transmitted pathogens are transmitted form the centre of this review of sexual networks. The fundamental concept of a social network is that the collection of links (paths or edges) and nodes forms an entity far greater than the sum of its parts [1], including interdependent norms, members, organisation and culture.

With apologies to Dr. Mark Granovetter.

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Acknowledgement

The authors thank Ms. Aristea Kokkinos for her precise and painstaking help with the references.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Infectious Disease Emergency Preparedness Branch, Public Health Agency of Canada, Centre for Communicable Disease and Infection Control, AL 0603B, Tunney’s Pasture, Room 3438 100 Eglantine Driveway, Ottawa, ON, Canada, K1A 0K9

    Ann M. Jolly Ph.D.

  2. Cadham Provincial Laboratory, 750 William Avenue, Winnipeg, MB, Canada, R3C 3Y1

    John L. Wylie Ph.D.

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  1. Ann M. Jolly Ph.D.
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  2. John L. Wylie Ph.D.
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Correspondence to Ann M. Jolly Ph.D. .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Division of STD Prevention, NCHHSTP, Ctrs for Disease Control and Prevention, Clifton Road, NE 1600, Atlanta, 30333, Georgia, USA

    Sevgi O. Aral

  2. , Division of STD Prevention, NCHHSTP, Ctrs for Disease Control and Prevention, Clifton Rd., NE 1600, Atlanta, 30333, Georgia, USA

    Kevin A. Fenton

  3. Ctrs for Disease Control and Prevention, Buford Hwy 4770, Atlanta, 30341, Georgia, USA

    Judith A. Lipshutz

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Jolly, A.M., Wylie, J.L. (2013). Sexual Networks and Sexually Transmitted Infections; “The Strength of Weak (Long Distance) Ties”. In: Aral, S., Fenton, K., Lipshutz, J. (eds) The New Public Health and STD/HIV Prevention. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-4526-5_5

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