CPM Report No.: 08-189
By: Shah Jamal Alam and Ruth Meyer
Date: 29th February 2008

Abstract

In this paper we compare the impact of two sexual mixing schemes on the characteristics of the resulting sexual networks and the spread of HIV. This work is part of our studying social complexity in the Sekhukhune district of the Limpopo province in South Africa. While the agent-based models are constrained by evidence wherever possible, little or no evidence is available about individuals’ choice of partners in the region and their sexual behaviour. Since we therefore have to depend on plausible assumptions we decided to study different sexual mixing schemes and their effect on the formation of sexual networks. We report on some fundamental network signatures and discuss the resulting HIV/AIDS prevalence as a macro-level output of the simulation.

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