Psychometric properties of the European Portuguese version of the Perceived Risk of HIV Scale in the general population and HIV-uninfected partners from sero-different couples

Abstract

BackgroundPerceived risk of HIV plays an important role in the adoption of protective behaviours and HIV testing. However, few studies have used multiple-item measures to assess this construct. The Perceived Risk of HIV Scale (PRHS) is an 8-item measure that assesses how people think and feel about their risk of HIV infection. This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the psychometric properties (reliability and validity) of the European Portuguese version of the PRHS, including the ability of this scale to discriminate between individuals from the general population and HIV-uninfected partners from sero-different couples on their perceived risk of HIV infection (known-groups validity).MethodsThis study included 917 individuals from the general population (sample 1) to assess the psychometric properties of the PRHS. To assess the known-groups validity, the sample comprised 445 participants from the general population who were in an intimate relationship (sub-set of sample 1) and 42 HIV-uninfected partners from sero-different couples (sample 2). All participants filled out a set of questionnaires, which included a self-reported questionnaire on sociodemographic information, sexual behaviours, HIV testing and the PRHS. Sample 1 also completed the HIV Knowledge Questionnaire – 18-item version.ResultsThe original unidimensional structure was reproduced both in exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, and the PRHS demonstrated good reliability (α = .78; composite reliability = .82). The differential item functioning analyses indicated that the items of the PRHS, in general, did not function differently for men and women or according to HIV testing. Significant associations with sexual risk behaviours and HIV testing provided evidence for criterion validity. The known-groups validity was supported.ConclusionsThe PRHS is a suitable scale in the evaluation of the perceived risk of HIV, and its psychometric characteristics validate its use in the Portuguese population. Furthermore, the present study suggests that interventions improving individuals’ HIV risk perceptions may be important since they were associated with different sexual behaviours and the likelihood of HIV testing.

Seeking security or seeking pleasure in sexual behavior? Examining how individual motives shape condom use attitudes

“…We selected four items from the original scale developed by Napper and colleagues (2012). Based on the data provided in the Portuguese validation study (Martins et al, 2019), we selected the items with the highest factor loadings to assess perceived chances of infection (one item: "I think my chances of getting infected with HIV are…", 1 = Zero to 7 = Very large), vulnerability to infection (two items: "I worry about getting infected with HIV", 1 = None of the time to 7 = All of the time; "What is your gut feeling about how likely you are to get infected with HIV? ", 1 = Extremely unlikely to 7 = Extremely likely), and salience of risk (one item: "Picturing myself getting HIV is something I find…", 1 = Very hard to do to 7 = Very easy to do).…”

Sociosexuality and correlates of condom use in Colombia: Validation of the Latin American version of the SOI-R

“…Since the emergence of HIV, many people felt worried about the possibility of being infected and eventually dying. AIDS phobia can manifest itself as a recurrent fear of becoming infected with HIV, even when the risk infection is unlikely, with negative consequences for satisfaction with sexuality and life (Martins et al, 2019;Vallejo-Medina et al, 2018). Taking into account that one of the characteristics of phobias is enacting avoidance behaviors, people with AIDS phobia should avoid situations that can increase the risk of HIV infection.…”

Moderating Effect of Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Use on the Association Between Sexual Risk Behavior and Perceived Risk of HIV Among Brazilian Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex With Men: Cross-Sectional Study

“…However, single question measures may be inadequate, given that perceived risk of HIV is a complex, multidimensional concept [20,27,29,31]. To address this, the 8-item Perceived Risk of HIV Scale (PRHS) was developed and subsequently validated for use in European and Brazilian Portuguese [32][33][34]. The PRHS covers multiple dimensions of the perceived risk of HIV, including cognitive likelihood assessment (ie, the chance of infection), intuitive assessment (ie, worry about infection), and salience of risk (ie, having thought about infection) [32].…”