HIV-related posts from a Chinese internet discussion forum: An exploratory study

PloS One
Yuan DongYing Wang

Abstract

In China, the introduction of antiretroviral treatment has increased the number of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). New technologies, such as social media, might be useful for enhancing HIV surveillance, especially given the lack of Chinese research, which is related to stigma and discrimination. Thus, the relative anonymity of social media may make it useful for evaluating "hard to reach" PLWHA. This study used social media data to assess whether it reflected the prevalence of HIV and to explore PLWHA' needs and online habits. In 2017, the Baidu Tieba platform was searched to obtain 2,500 HIV-related postings and 2,500 tuberculosis-related postings as a comparative sample. Word clouds and coding schemes were used to analyze the contents and review the users' needs and online habits. Negative binomial regression was used to evaluate the relationships between word cloud geolocations and provincial numbers of men who have sex with men (MSM) PLWHA cases, after controlling for socioeconomic status. Word cloud geolocations were associated with reported MSM-PLWHA cases (p<0.001). Over one-third of the HIV-related posts were seeking advice, with 40.12% being related to medical topics, although these posts received the fewest repli...Continue Reading

References

Oct 26, 2002·BMJ : British Medical Journal·Mari M KitahataKing K Holmes
Jun 3, 2005·AIDS·Robert MagnaniDouglas Heckathorn
Jun 13, 2006·Social Science & Medicine·Winnie W S MakDominic Lee
Mar 26, 2010·Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes : JAIDS·Brian J Coburn, Sally Blower
Aug 30, 2011·Globalization and Health·Christopher J Colvin
Aug 3, 2013·Western Pacific Surveillance and Response Journal : WPSAR·Wen LinMarc Bulterys
Apr 18, 2015·American Journal of Epidemiology·Jenifer E Allsworth
Nov 4, 2015·Journal of Medical Internet Research·Tamara TaggartMalika Roman Isler
Dec 27, 2017·Preventive Medicine·Sean D YoungSevgi O Aral

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Aug 27, 2019·Current Opinion in HIV and AIDS·Steffanie A StrathdeeJohn W Ayers
Dec 4, 2019·Current Opinion in Infectious Diseases·Bolin CaoWeiming Tang

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Software Mentioned

Reddit
ggplot2
wordcloud2
R
jiebaR
irr

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.