Spatial accessibility and the spread of HIV-1 subtypes and recombinants.

OBJECTIVE/DESIGN: The global spread of HIV-1 main group (group M) has resulted in differential distributions of subtypes and recombinants, with the greatest diversity being found in sub-Saharan Africa. The explanations for the current subtype distribution patterns are likely multifactorial, but the...

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Main Authors: Tatem, A, Hemelaar, J, Gray, R, Salemi, M
Format: Journal article
Language:English
Published: 2012
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author Tatem, A
Hemelaar, J
Gray, R
Salemi, M
author_facet Tatem, A
Hemelaar, J
Gray, R
Salemi, M
author_sort Tatem, A
collection OXFORD
description OBJECTIVE/DESIGN: The global spread of HIV-1 main group (group M) has resulted in differential distributions of subtypes and recombinants, with the greatest diversity being found in sub-Saharan Africa. The explanations for the current subtype distribution patterns are likely multifactorial, but the promotion of human migrations and movements through transportation link availability and quality, summarized through 'accessibility', have been consistently cited as strong drivers. We sought to address the question of whether accessibility has been a significant factor in HIV-1 spread across mainland Africa through spatial analyses of molecular epidemiology, transport network and land cover data. METHODS: The distribution of HIV-1 subtypes and recombinants in sub-Saharan Africa for the period 1998-2008 was mapped using molecular epidemiology data at a finer level of detail than ever before. Moreover, hypotheses on the role of distance, road network structure and accessibility in explaining the patterns seen were tested using spatial datasets representing African transport infrastructure, land cover and an accessibility model of landscape travel speed. RESULTS: Coherent spatial patterns in HIV-1 subtype distributions across the continent exist, and a substantial proportion of the variance in the distribution and diversity pattern seen can be explained by variations in regional spatial accessibility. CONCLUSION: The study confirms quantitatively the influence of transport infrastructure on HIV-1 spread within Africa, presents an approach for examining potential future impacts of road development projects and, more generally, highlights the importance of accessibility in the spread of communicable diseases.
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spelling oxford-uuid:81500028-ef74-4ed2-9240-df6d73735b512022-03-26T21:29:30ZSpatial accessibility and the spread of HIV-1 subtypes and recombinants.Journal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:81500028-ef74-4ed2-9240-df6d73735b51EnglishSymplectic Elements at Oxford2012Tatem, AHemelaar, JGray, RSalemi, MOBJECTIVE/DESIGN: The global spread of HIV-1 main group (group M) has resulted in differential distributions of subtypes and recombinants, with the greatest diversity being found in sub-Saharan Africa. The explanations for the current subtype distribution patterns are likely multifactorial, but the promotion of human migrations and movements through transportation link availability and quality, summarized through 'accessibility', have been consistently cited as strong drivers. We sought to address the question of whether accessibility has been a significant factor in HIV-1 spread across mainland Africa through spatial analyses of molecular epidemiology, transport network and land cover data. METHODS: The distribution of HIV-1 subtypes and recombinants in sub-Saharan Africa for the period 1998-2008 was mapped using molecular epidemiology data at a finer level of detail than ever before. Moreover, hypotheses on the role of distance, road network structure and accessibility in explaining the patterns seen were tested using spatial datasets representing African transport infrastructure, land cover and an accessibility model of landscape travel speed. RESULTS: Coherent spatial patterns in HIV-1 subtype distributions across the continent exist, and a substantial proportion of the variance in the distribution and diversity pattern seen can be explained by variations in regional spatial accessibility. CONCLUSION: The study confirms quantitatively the influence of transport infrastructure on HIV-1 spread within Africa, presents an approach for examining potential future impacts of road development projects and, more generally, highlights the importance of accessibility in the spread of communicable diseases.
spellingShingle Tatem, A
Hemelaar, J
Gray, R
Salemi, M
Spatial accessibility and the spread of HIV-1 subtypes and recombinants.
title Spatial accessibility and the spread of HIV-1 subtypes and recombinants.
title_full Spatial accessibility and the spread of HIV-1 subtypes and recombinants.
title_fullStr Spatial accessibility and the spread of HIV-1 subtypes and recombinants.
title_full_unstemmed Spatial accessibility and the spread of HIV-1 subtypes and recombinants.
title_short Spatial accessibility and the spread of HIV-1 subtypes and recombinants.
title_sort spatial accessibility and the spread of hiv 1 subtypes and recombinants
work_keys_str_mv AT tatema spatialaccessibilityandthespreadofhiv1subtypesandrecombinants
AT hemelaarj spatialaccessibilityandthespreadofhiv1subtypesandrecombinants
AT grayr spatialaccessibilityandthespreadofhiv1subtypesandrecombinants
AT salemim spatialaccessibilityandthespreadofhiv1subtypesandrecombinants