A NETWORK MODELING APPROACH FOR ASSESSING THE EFFICIENCY OF PREVENTION STRATEGIES

Survey data and a simulation model based on a stochastic pair formatio n process are used to construct networks of sexual contacts. We model heterosexual partnerships which can be steady or casual depending on t heir average duration. Transmission of an infectious disease can take place in pairs of a susceptible and an infected individual. We study n etworks of sexual contacts accumulated during 1 year for different typ es of mixing patterns. The networks are constructed on the basis of da ta from a survey in The Netherlands. We analyze the network structure for different mixing patterns and investigate the relationship between network structure and disease spread; furthermore we study the effect of prevention measures on the structure of the network.