SOCIAL TRANSMISSION ROUTES OF HIV - A COMBINED SEXUAL NETWORK AND LIFE-COURSE PERSPECTIVE

A combined sexual network and lifecourse perspective is proposed asa b asis for reconstructing the sexological infrastructure of HIV dissemin ation. Necessary data are drawn from a representative sample survey of 1001 adults (age range 18-50 years) in the Netherlands, Heterosexual respondents' behavioural risk level, expressed in the number of unprot ected sexual interconnections with primary and secondary partners, is found to be related to both age and relational status, though these va riables cannot fully predict risk. While those under 24 years of age a re over-represented in the larger components of sexual networks, above 32 years of age there is a small group who follow a lifestyle of regu larly changing sexual partners.