Construction and validity of an instrument for sociological and behavioral assessment associated with HIV infection in young peoplea

Abstract

Objective to construct and validate the content of an instrument for sociostructural and behavioral assessment associated with HIV infection in young people. Method a methodological study developed in two steps: instrument elaboration; and content validity. The items that made up the instrument were selected through a literary review using the Modified Social Ecological Model multilevel domains as a reference, categorized into sociostructural and behavioral components. Content was assessed by experts in two rounds conducted using the Delphi technique, assuming an agreement rate of at least 80%. Results the first version of the instrument contained 52 items, distributed across three domains. In the first round, 19 items (36.5%) had a Content Validity Index lower than 0.80, two items were excluded and the rest were reformulated. In the second round, 2 items were excluded and 3 were incorporated as subitems, totaling 45 items. The Instrument Content Validity Index was 95%. Conclusion and implications for practice experts’ recommendations contributed qualifying the Sociostructural and Behavioral Assessment-HIV instrument, enabling content reorganization. The instrument is valid for identifying socio-structural and behavioral factors associated with HIV infection in young people, with the potential to constitute preventive care planning.