Sexual networks and sexually transmitted infections; “the strength of weak (long distance) ties”

Abstract

Social networks are natural social units of people (nodes, actors) linked directly or indirectly to others by interaction, affections, associations or relationships and, for the purposes of this chapter, sexual intercourse. Sexual networks through which sexually transmitted pathogens are transmitted form the centre of this review of sexual networks. The fundamental concept of a social network is that the collection of links (paths or edges) and nodes forms an entity far greater than the sum of its parts [1], including interdependent norms, members, organisation and culture.