Abstract
HIV infection remains highly stigmatized throughout sub-Saharan Africa despite the increasing availability of treatment. HIV-related
stigma is commonly described to be highly prevalent in East Africa, but none of these studies have employed validated scales
for measurement. We used data from 456 people living with HIV/AIDS in rural Uganda to validate the six-item Internalized AIDS-Related
Stigma Scale. The scale demonstrated acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.73) and time stability. Exploratory
factor analysis indicated the presence of a single factor. Construct validity was supported by observations that the scale
was correlated with related constructs such as depression and mental health-related quality of life. The scale was able to
discriminate between groups of persons who were different in terms of treatment status and their experience of HIV-related
self-blame. Taken together, these findings suggest that the Internalized AIDS-Related Stigma Scale may be a useful tool for
socio-behavioral HIV research.
stigma is commonly described to be highly prevalent in East Africa, but none of these studies have employed validated scales
for measurement. We used data from 456 people living with HIV/AIDS in rural Uganda to validate the six-item Internalized AIDS-Related
Stigma Scale. The scale demonstrated acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.73) and time stability. Exploratory
factor analysis indicated the presence of a single factor. Construct validity was supported by observations that the scale
was correlated with related constructs such as depression and mental health-related quality of life. The scale was able to
discriminate between groups of persons who were different in terms of treatment status and their experience of HIV-related
self-blame. Taken together, these findings suggest that the Internalized AIDS-Related Stigma Scale may be a useful tool for
socio-behavioral HIV research.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-7
- DOI 10.1007/s10461-012-0281-3
- Authors
- Alexander C. Tsai, Center for Global Health, Massachusetts General Hospital, Room 1529-E3, 100 Cambridge Street, 15th Floor, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Sheri D. Weiser, Division of HIV/AIDS and Positive Health Program, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Wayne T. Steward, Department of Medicine, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Nozmo F. B. Mukiibi, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda
- Annet Kawuma, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda
- Annet Kembabazi, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda
- Conrad Muzoora, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda
- Peter W. Hunt, Division of HIV/AIDS and Positive Health Program, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Jeffrey N. Martin, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- David R. Bangsberg, Center for Global Health, Massachusetts General Hospital, Room 1529-E3, 100 Cambridge Street, 15th Floor, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Journal AIDS and Behavior
- Online ISSN 1573-3254
- Print ISSN 1090-7165