Indoor social networks in a South African township : potential contribution of location to tuberculosis transmission

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dc.contributor.authorWood, Robinen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorRacow, Kimberlyen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorBekker, Linda-Gailen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorMorrow, Carlen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorMiddelkoop, Kerenen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorMark, Daniellaen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorLawn, Stephen D.en_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2013-07-03T08:19:33Z
dc.date.available2013-07-03T08:19:33Z
dc.date.issued2012-06-29
dc.descriptionCITATION: Wood, R. et al. 2012. Indoor social networks in a South African township : potential contribution of location to tuberculosis transmission. PLoS ONE, 7(6): e39246, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0039246.
dc.descriptionThe original publication is available at http://journals.plos.org/plosone
dc.description.abstractBackground We hypothesized that in South Africa, with a generalized tuberculosis (TB) epidemic, TB infection is predominantly acquired indoors and transmission potential is determined by the number and duration of social contacts made in locations that are conducive to TB transmission. We therefore quantified time spent and contacts met in indoor locations and public transport by residents of a South African township with a very high TB burden. Methods A diary-based community social mixing survey was performed in 2010. Randomly selected participants (n = 571) prospectively recorded numbers of contacts and time spent in specified locations over 24-hour periods. To better characterize age-related social networks, participants were stratified into ten 5-year age strata and locations were classified into 11 types. Results Five location types (own-household, other-households, transport, crèche/school, and work) contributed 97.2% of total indoor time and 80.4% of total indoor contacts. Median time spent indoors was 19.1 hours/day (IQR:14.3–22.7), which was consistent across age strata. Median daily contacts increased from 16 (IQR:9–40) in 0–4 year-olds to 40 (IQR:18–60) in 15–19 year-olds and declined to 18 (IQR:10–41) in ≥45 year-olds. Mean daily own-household contacts was 8.8 (95%CI:8.2–9.4), which decreased with increasing age. Mean crèche/school contacts increased from 6.2/day (95%CI:2.7–9.7) in 0–4 year-olds to 28.1/day (95%CI:8.1–48.1) in 15–19 year-olds. Mean transport contacts increased from 4.9/day (95%CI:1.6–8.2) in 0–4 year-olds to 25.5/day (95%CI:12.1–38.9) in 25–29 year-olds. Conclusions A limited number of location types contributed the majority of indoor social contacts in this community. Increasing numbers of social contacts occurred throughout childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood, predominantly in school and public transport. This rapid increase in non-home socialization parallels the increasing TB infection rates during childhood and young adulthood reported in this community. Further studies of the environmental conditions in schools and public transport, as potentially important locations for ongoing TB infection, are indicated.
dc.description.urihttp://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0039246
dc.description.versionPublisher's version
dc.format.extent5 pages
dc.identifier.citationWood, R. et al. 2012. Indoor social networks in a South African township : potential contribution of location to tuberculosis transmission. PLoS ONE, 7(6): e39246, doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0039246.
dc.identifier.issn1932-6203 (online)
dc.identifier.otherdoi:10.1371/journal.pone.0039246
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/82390
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherPublic Library of Science
dc.rights.holderAuthors retain copyright
dc.subjectTuberculosisen_ZA
dc.subjectTuberculosis -- South Africaen_ZA
dc.subjectSquatter settlements -- South Africaen_ZA
dc.subjectSquatter settlements -- Health aspectsen_ZA
dc.subjectSocial networks -- South Africaen_ZA
dc.subjectSquatter settlements -- Social aspects -- South Africaen_ZA
dc.titleIndoor social networks in a South African township : potential contribution of location to tuberculosis transmissionen_ZA
dc.typeArticle
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