Network analysis is an approach to research that is uniquely suited to describing, exploring, and understanding structural and relational aspects of health. It is both a methodological tool and a theoretical paradigm that allows us to pose and answer important ecological questions in public health. In this review we trace the history of network analysis, provide a methodological overview of network techniques, and discuss where and how network analysis has been used in public health. We show how network analysis has its roots in mathematics, statistics, sociology, anthropology, psychology, biology, physics, and computer science. In public health, network analysis has been used to study primarily disease transmission, especially for HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases; information transmission, particularly for diffusion of innovations; the role of social support and social capital; the influence of personal and social networks on health behavior; and the interorganizational structure of health systems. We conclude with future directions for network analysis in public health.

中文翻译：

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公共卫生中的网络分析：历史，方法和应用。

网络分析是一种研究方法，非常适合描述，探索和理解健康的结构和关系方面。它既是方法论工具，又是理论范式，它使我们能够提出和回答公共卫生中的重要生态问题。在这篇综述中，我们追溯了网络分析的历史，提供了网络技术的方法学概述，并讨论了在公共卫生中何处以及如何使用网络分析。我们展示了网络分析如何起源于数学，统计学，社会学，人类学，心理学，生物学，物理学和计算机科学。在公共卫生中，网络分析主要用于研究疾病传播，特别是对于艾滋病毒/艾滋病和其他性传播疾病；信息传播，特别是为了传播创新；社会支持和社会资本的作用；个人和社交网络对健康行为的影响；以及卫生系统的组织间结构。我们总结了公共卫生网络分析的未来方向。