376P
BRIDGE GROUPS AND CORE GROUPS: THE SOCIAL ORGANISATION OF STI/HIV TRANSMISSION
B van Caloen1, M Haineault1, E Frost1, F Gendron2
¹Université de Sherbrooke; 2CLSC de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Québec
Objectives: This research has three sets of objectives: (1) social research-public health, (2) improving services and (3) screening. (1) To better understand the networks of marginalized youth in Sherbrooke, Qubec and their mixing with other networks (marginal or their natural), in particular, their role in the transmission of STI/AIDS, with the hypothesis of their being a bridge group. (2) To improve accessibility of existing services. (3) To develop less intrusive screening tests.
Methods: (1) Qualitative approach: ethnographic observation: semi-structured interviews (n=15). (2) Observation, log book: outreach programs (street work CSPTR and CLSC Sherbrooke). (3) To develop less intrusive tests and to verify the hypothesis of a bridge group with a quantitative semi-experimental design (population=youths aged 14–25 years, n=100/group).
Results: Unlike previous reports, marginalized youth are no longer visually identifiable. We acknowledged three levels in the process of marginalization: 1) Adolescent experimenting with a risk of instability; 2) entry into marginal networks; 3) social exclusion and marginality leading to a more infected group. The transition between the different levels is not linear. The network's permeability differs according to their marginalization level. Levels 1 and 3 are less structured and more prone to mixing with other networks (STI-transmission). The youth who are actively in the process of marginalization are the more at risk and consult the least; the most marginalized youth consult.
Conclusion: Inter group permeability shows the dynamics of STI-Transmission from the core group to the general population. On the basis of self-declaration of previous STDs, we are able to document the presence of a bridge group at Sherbrooke, Québec which is an important Public Health issue. Our hypothesis is that the same path is followed for transmission of HCV/HIV.