[A Social Network Perspective on the Transmission of Infections in Tibetan School Children in Sichuan].

OBJECTIVE

To determine the transmission characteristics of infections from a social network perspective in Tibetan school children in Sichuan.

METHODS

A cluster sampling strategy was adopted to select two primary schools with high level of infections in the Tibetan agriculture areas of Liangshan prefecture, Sichuan province. All of the students from the selected schools were enrolled in the study. Their social network data, including classroom seating, dormitory roommates, best playmates, and those who shared meals and snacks etc, were collected by trained investigators. Stool and blood samples of the students were collected for parasite detection. The transmission network of infections and the overall social network of school children were analysed.

RESULTS

A total of 644 children participated in the study. Taenia solium were found in 6.11% of the stool samples and 13.25% blood samples returned with seropositive. The transmission was centered around the sources of infections: dormitory-clustering in the boarding school and playmate-clustering in the day school. The overall social network analysis revealed "core people" (more relationships), "information disseminators" (closer to other nodes) and "information hubs" (between two nodes) in both schools.

CONCLUSION

Close contacts in dormitories and playgrounds are the main sources of transmission of cysticercosis in the Tibetan schools. The "core people" "information disseminators" and "information hubs" are critical for the prevention and control of cysticercosis in the future.