Using social networks to recruit an HIV vaccine preparedness cohort

UnrestrictedObjectives: To evaluate a social network approach to develop an adolescent cohort for HIV vaccine preparedness and investigate characteristics that influence recruitment. Methods: Fifty-nine adolescent and adult HIV-infected patients of a family-based HIV clinic and their sixty-two significant others were enrolled. These participants named social network members and indicated willingness to involve them in this study. Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with willingness. Results: Network members’ awareness of the index member’s HIV-positivity and older age affected respondents’ willingness to engage their network members in this study. Respondents were less willing to invite drug-risk alters. HIV-infected patients are willing to recruit their social network members, provided concerns about disclosure of HIV status are addressed. Conclusions: Using social networks to recruit adolescent populations is appropriate and feasible for vaccine preparedness activities, future vaccine trials, and other prevention programs, but procedures are needed to selectively identify and retain high-risk youth