Centrality measures for disease transmission networks

This paper addresses the issue of the applicability of various network meas ures (provided by analysis programs such as UCINET) for the analysis of a d isease transmission network. A simulation was conducted to estimate HIV tra nsmission probabilities within an empirical network of cocaine injectors. T he results of the simulation were then used as a criterion to evaluate netw ork measures of disease vulnerability and infectivity. The analysis conclud es that, for the type of disease transmission network studied, relatively s imple ego-network-based network measures can be adequate to the measurement of vulnerability to disease and infectivity. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V . All rights reserved.