Development of Parallel Scales to Measure HIV-Related Stigma

Abstract

HIV-related stigma is a multidimensional concept which has pervasive effects on the lives of HIV-infected people as well as serious consequences for the management of HIV/AIDS. In this research three parallel stigma scales were developed to assess personal views of stigma, stigma attributed to others, and internalised stigma experienced by HIV-infected individuals. The stigma scales were administered in two samples: a community sample of 1,077 respondents and 317 HIV-infected pregnant women recruited at clinics from the same community in Tshwane (South Africa). A two-factor structure referring to moral judgment and interpersonal distancing was confirmed across scales and sample groups. The internal consistency of the scales was acceptable and evidence of validity is reported. Parallel scales to assess and compare different perspectives of stigma provide opportunities for research aimed at understanding stigma, assessing the consequences or evaluating possible interventions aimed at reducing stigma.

Overlapping HIV and sex-work stigma among female sex workers recruited to 14 respondent-driven sampling surveys across Zimbabwe, 2013

“…We asked few questions about stigma, although these were informed by previous research (Stangl, Brady, & Fritz, 2012). Applying the same wording for questions on HIV stigma to sex-work stigma is new, reflecting the literature (Visser, Kershaw, Makin, & Forsyth, 2008) on parallel stigma, and thus should be treated with some caution particularly as sex-workers may find it difficult to identify causes of specific stigma experiences. It is also likely that visibility of participating in sex-work is greater than for LWH, possibly explaining lower levels of reported HIV stigma.…”

Evaluación de una intervención dirigida a reducir el impacto del estigma en las personas con VIH capacitándolas para afrontarlo

“…Berger, Ferrans, and Lashley (2001) found measures of low selfesteem associated with internalized stigma in aspects such as: feeling dirty, not as good as others, being a bad person for having HIV, and feelings of shame and guilt. On the other hand, Visser, Kershaw, Makin, and Forsyth (2008) found significant correlations between high levels of internalized stigma and low self-esteem, low social support, and depression.…”

“…Moreover, this reduction was the one with the largest effect size. This result is relevant because the literature has consistently shown the negative effects of internalized stigma on the well-being of people with HIV, on their positive social identity, their capacity to seek social support, or their coping with stigma (Fuster, 2011;Herek, Saha, & Burack, 2013;Stutterheim et al, 2011;Visser et al, 2008).…”

Avances en la construcción del Inventario de Estigma relacionado con el VIH (IE-VIH) en Buenos Aires, Argentina

“…La mayor parte de ellos son pruebas psicométricas que adoptan el formato de inventarios y autorreportes (Berger et al, 2001;Bunn, Solomon, Miller & Forehand, 2007;Franke et al, 2014;Kipp et al, 2015;Molina & Ramirez-Valles, 2013;Visser, Kershaw, Makin & Forsyth, 2008). Las dimensiones del estigma relacionado con el VIH que son consideradas por cada uno de estos instrumentos son altamente variables.…”