Incarceration and HIV Risk:
Sexual Decision-Making and Sexual Networks in Urban African American Communities

Principal Investigator: Andrea K. Knittel, MD/PhD (c)
Contact Information: Andrea K. Knittel, aknittel@umich.edu
Project Dates: January 2010 - May 2011
Funding: King Chavez Parks Future Faculty Fellowship , Point Foundation Scholarship , University of Michigan Department of Health Behavior and Health Education , University of Michigan Medical School Medical Scientist Training Program , the Center for the Study of Social Epidemiology and Public Health

Description:
This project is motivated by an interest in the effects of incarceration on sexuality, sexual decision-making and on masculinity, both at the individual and community levels, as well as how these may shape HIV risk.  Specifically, this project aims to first examine whether individuals who have been incarcerated differ from similar individuals who have not been incarcerated in terms of sexual partnerships and to second evaluate the potential of conceptualizations of masculinity as explanatory factors in the relationship between incarceration and sexual partnerships.  Finally, the project implements a computational model of sexual partnership and examines the potential effects of incarceration on partnerships as well as overall sexual network structure.

Dissertation Committee:
Rachel Snow, Chair
Derek Griffith
Jeff Morenoff
Rick Riolo