Title: Application of Social Network Analysis in Diverse Health and Allied Disciplines –A Review of Existing Research Literature

Authors: Kabilan Annadurai, M Bagavandas, Karikalan Nagarajan

 DOI:  https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v5i5.151

Abstract

Social network analysis is the study of social structure which connects individuals. This paper reviews the scopes and use of social network analysis   as a tool for health research and   interventions for improving the health status of population. We review   diverse    health conditions or diseases which were explored or intervened through   social network based research across the world so far and present a summary of the findings. We found that Social network has widely applicability in addressing various health and diseases condition including communicable and non-   communicable diseases mainly HIV, STI’s, cancer, obesity, Tuberculosis, Flu etc. We also found that it has been used in assessing health   seeking behaviors from different perspectives including tribal and rural population. Program implementation and biomedical research also have found the applicability of social network analysis.

Keywords:  Social Network, health, research, diseases, structure, tool.

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Corresponding Author

Kabilan Annadurai

School of Public Health SRM University