A0918
Title: Minibus connectivity to brothels in Lilongwe, Malawi, and implications for STI clinic attendance
Authors: Skyler Noble - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (United States)
Griffin Bell - University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (United States)
Feng-Chang Lin - University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill (United States) [presenting]
Abstract: Social and geospatial connectivity often shapes the sexual networks through which sexually transmitted infections (STIs) propagate. Public transportation can play an important role in STI transmission. It bridges communities and facilitates shopping, medical visits, social outings, and even meeting potential sexual partners. Minibus transportation is common in Lilongwe, Malawi. However, its role in connecting residences to venues where sex is purchased and sold has not been explored. Minibus routes and brothel locations in Lilongwe are collected, and the connectivity is determined to these brothels via minibus routes. A generalized additive model (GAM) with a nonparametric spatial dependence was fit to explore the relative risk of STI clinic visits and the travelling time via the minibus. The rapid decay of the relative risks in travelling time shows the strong association between the connectivity of the transition network and the population's sexual health outcome.
