Analysis of Multi-Interacting Networks and Their Application to HIV Transmission Among Men Who Have Sex with Men

Network science is a powerful tool for understanding the complex interactions between individuals and is widely used to study the spread of infectious diseases. Men who have sex with men (MSM) have a high risk of HIV transmission, and sex-role preference is an essential element of HIV spread. Considering the preferences of MSM groups and the effective connections with actual transmission rates, this study established a random network (symmetric degree distribution) and a scale-free network (asymmetric degree distribution), respectively. The matrix centrality theory and computer numerical simulation are combined to analyze HIV transmission patterns in MSM groups. The results indicate that the stochasticity in the asymmetric degree distribution network is higher than in the symmetric degree distribution network. Degree and eigenvector centrality are similar in asymmetric or symmetric degree distribution networks. The centrality eigenvector can reflect more information because it includes both the node’s degree and its connections’ degrees. However, when many individuals are infected, the degree of centrality may directly come into play.