This study considers whether the personal networks of older South African people living with HIV (PLHIV) differ from those without HIV. Using recent survey data (N = 5059), results suggest that PLHIV reported more core network members than their peers without HIV (IRR 1.08; 95% CI 1.03, 1.13), but were equally likely to receive emotional support from network members (1.21; 95% CI 0.93, 1.58). PLHIV who had yet to disclose their serostatus were more likely than others to have friends and other non-kin in their core network (B 0.08; 95% CI 0.02, 0.13) and to maintain networks of non-overlapping members (OR 2.11; 95% CI 1.33, 3.34). Even as HIV remains highly stigmatized in South Africa, PLHIV tend to maintain relatively large and supportive networks. Still, a sizeable proportion of PLHIV do not disclose their illness—these individuals disproportionately inhabit networks marked by non-kin and by high bridging potential.

这项研究考虑了南非艾滋病毒感染者 (PLHIV) 的个人网络是否与未感染艾滋病毒的人不同。使用最近的调查数据 (N = 5059)，结果表明 PLHIV 报告的核心网络成员比没有 HIV 的同龄人多 (IRR 1.08; 95% CI 1.03, 1.13)，但同样可能从网络成员那里获得情感支持 (1.21; 95% CI 0.93, 1.58)。尚未披露其血清状况的 PLHIV 比其他人更有可能在其核心网络中拥有朋友和其他非亲属（B0.08; 95% CI 0.02, 0.13) 并维持非重叠成员的网络 (OR 2.11; 95% CI 1.33, 3.34)。尽管 HIV 在南非仍然受到高度污名化，但 PLHIV 往往保持着相对较大和支持性的网络。尽管如此，相当大比例的 PLHIV 并没有透露他们的病情——这些人不成比例地居住在以非亲属和高桥接潜力为标志的网络中。