Validity, reliability, and measurement invariance of an adapted short version of the HIV stigma scale among perinatally HIV infected adolescents at the Kenyan coast (original) (raw)
Related papers
BMJ Open, 2022
ObjectiveWe studied the psychometric properties of the 12-item short version of the Berger HIV stigma scale and assessed the correlates of HIV-related stigma among adults living with HIV on the Kenyan coast.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingComprehensive Care and Research Centre in the Kilifi County Hospital.ParticipantsAdults living with HIV on combination antiretroviral therapy were recruited and interviewed between February and April 2018 (n=450).Main outcome measuresHIV-related stigma.Results450 participants with a median age of 43 years (IQR=36–50) took part in the study. Of these, 356 (79.1%) were female. Scale reliability and validity were high (alpha=0.80, test–retest reliability intraclass correlation coefficient=0.92). Using confirmatory factor analysis, we observed that the 12-item short version of the HIV stigma scale had a good fit for its hypothesised model (Comparative Fit Index=0.966, Tucker Lewis Index=0.955, root mean square error of approximation=0.044). Multigro...
Manifestations of Stigma among HIV Infected Adolescents in Samia Sub-County, Busia, Kenya
The International Journal of Humanities & Social Studies
1. Background For over twenty years, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) have been major public health epidemics that continue to ravage communities (Weinberg&Kavarik, 2010).The World Health Organization Global Summary of AIDS shows that 33.4 million people worldwide are living with HIV/AIDS, with 2.1 million of those being children under the age of 15, and 1.8 million of these children live in the global South (WHO, 2015). The disease burden of HIV occurs within low and middle income counties within the Global South (Bendavid, Young &Katzenstein, 2008). Approximately 29% of all new HIV infections in Kenya are among adolescents and youth. Thirty percent of new HIV infections in adults are among youth below 24 years. Young women aged 15-24 years post the highest number of HIV infections and contribute 21% of all new infections in Kenya (UNAIDS, 2021). Most inequalities that facilitated the spread of the AIDS pandemic are getting worse and, continue to fan the spread of HIV in many parts of the world (UNAIDS, 2021). COVID-19 has brought these inequalities to the forefront and exposed the fragility of the gains made. The inequalities that underpin stigma, discrimination and HIV-related
Validation of an HIV/AIDS Stigma Measure for Children Living with HIV and Their Families
Journal of the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care (JIAPAC)
Background: There are few validated tools to measure stigma, particularly among children living with HIV and their families. Methods: This study was nested within a larger study that followed 240 child–caregiver dyads (children aged 10-15 years) at 8 clinics in western Kenya. The stigma instrument was administered to all child–caregiver dyads at 2 time points 6 months apart. The primary end point was to construct validity assessed by comparison to criterion constructs using generalized estimating equation models. Results: Mean age of child participants was 12.3 years and 52% were female. Generally, caregivers reported experiencing higher levels of HIV stigma compared to their children. Children (9%) and caregivers (14%) reported that HIV stigma made them feel stressed, anxious, and depressed. Child and caregiver stigma items showed high construct validity by emotional and behavioral outcomes. Conclusions: The stigma instrument showed high validity when compared to emotional and beha...
AIDS Patient Care and STDs, 2013
Psychometric properties of an 18-item HIV felt stigma questionnaire were evaluated utilizing data collected from a diverse ethnic and socioeconomic group of 370 people living with HIV/AIDS and receiving HIV/AIDS-related health services at an HIV clinic in Kenya. Factor analyses revealed a four factor solution (public attitudes, ostracize, discrimination, personal life disrupted) based on the Scree plot with explained variance of 44% that had Eigen values greater than 1.00. The retained felt stigma items revealed a Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.828, while the four factors had coefficient alphas ranging from 0.675 to 0.799. The adapted retained questionnaire was deemed a practical guide for measuring felt stigma in a Kenyan cultural context to necessitate provision of the most effective HIV-related mental health services to individuals living with HIV in Kenya.
HIV Stigma: Perspectives from Kenyan Child Caregivers and Adolescents Living with HIV
Journal of the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care (JIAPAC), 2016
Stigma shapes all aspects of HIV prevention and treatment, yet there are limited data on how HIVinfected youth and their families are affected by stigma in sub-Saharan Africa. The authors conducted a qualitative study using focus group discussions among 39 HIV-infected adolescents receiving care at HIV clinics in western Kenya and 53 caregivers of HIV-infected children. Participants felt that while knowledge and access to treatment were increasing, many community members still held negative and inaccurate views about HIV, including associating it with immorality and believing in transmission by casual interactions. Stigma was closely related to a loss of social and economic support but also included internalized negative feelings about oneself. Participants identified treatment-related impacts of stigma, including nonadherence, nondisclosure of status to child or others, and increased mental health problems. Qualitative inquiry also provided insights into how to measure and reduce stigma among affected individuals and families.
Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, 2013
Background: HIV is a stigmatizing medical condition. The concept of HIV stigma is multifaceted, with personalized stigma (perceived stigmatizing consequences of others knowing of their HIV status), disclosure concerns, negative self-image, and concerns with public attitudes described as core aspects of stigma for individuals with HIV infection. There is limited research on HIV stigma in children. The aim of this study was to test a short version of the 40-item HIV Stigma Scale (HSS-40), adapted for 8-18 years old children with HIV infection living in Sweden. Methods: A Swedish version of the HSS-40 was adapted for children by an expert panel and evaluated by think aloud interviews. A preliminary short version with twelve items covering the four dimensions of stigma in the HSS-40 was tested. The psychometric evaluation included inspection of missing values, principal component analysis (PCA), internal consistency, and correlations with measures of health-related quality of life (HRQoL).
Aids and Behavior, 2023
HIV stigma remains a barrier in achieving optimal HIV treatment. We studied the prevalence and predictors of HIV stigma among adolescents and youth with HIV (AYWHIV) ages 15-24 years in Western Kenya. Of 1011 AYWHIV, 69% were female with a median age of 18 years. Most (59%) attended adolescent clinic days, and 40% attended support groups. Onequarter (27%) had experienced physical, 18% emotional, and 7% sexual violence. The majority of AYWHIV (88%) reported disclosure concerns, 48% reported perceived community stigma, 36% experienced, and 24% internalized stigma. Compared to AYWHIV attending adolescent clinics, those in general/adult clinics had higher internalized stigma. Similarly, having dropped out of school was associated with higher internalized stigma. AYWHIV in sexual relationships had higher experienced stigma and disclosure concerns. Lastly, exposure to violence was associated with higher experienced, internalized, perceived community stigma and disclosure concerns. These risk factors can be targeted when developing stigma-prevention interventions.
Global Pediatric Health
Introduction. Adolescents (10-19 years) living with HIV (ALWH) face unique challenges in controlling HIV long-term, including stigma and perception of stigma within their communities. Methods. We conducted a qualitative investigation of the sources of perceived HIV-related stigma with ALWH in western Kenya. Forty-six ALWH on ART, aware of their status, and engaged in care were enrolled. Interviews explored perceived stigma by probing the individuals and experiences that adolescents identify as causing or perpetuating their ongoing fears. Results. Participants (54% male, mean age 17.4) reported ongoing fears of stigmatization related to friends and peers not living with HIV. They described previous enacted and first-hand observations of stigma, most often occurring in pre-adolescence, by age mates or peers at school as the most common cause for their ongoing fears. Conclusions. Perceived stigma is prevalent among ALWH and develops from experiences in pre-adolescence. Anti-HIV stigma ...
The stigmatization of children with HIV/AIDS in Nairobi, Kenya
2021
The study investigated stigmatization of HI VIA IDS children in Nairobi, Kenya. It involved eight HIV/AIDS infected children aged 7-15 years from Joseph Kangethe Primary school, with an equal mix between boys and girls from diverse ethnic groups. A qualitative approach using interview questions and a phenomenological inquiry strategy was adopted. Data from in-depth personal interviews was transcribed, coded and categorized into themes and analyzed through the post-colonial lens. Stigma was detected through what the children felt about their status and their experiences. Key themes identified were: the children experienced different psychosocial impacts, including fear, denial, shame, fear of isolation and loneliness, and trauma. They confirmed the efficacy of anti-retroviral therapy (ART). From these findings and supporting literature, the study recommends counseling facilities, provision of anti-retroviral therapy. reconceptualized education using modem and traditional approaches, forums to discuss sexuality and HIV. home based care, community mobilization and empowerment to reduce HIV stigmatization.
Child Indicators Research, 2016
Sub-Saharan Africa is home to 90 % of the world's adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV). HIV-stigma and the resultant fear of being identified as HIV-positive can compromise the survival of these youth by undermining anti-retroviral treatment initiation and adherence. To date, no HIV-stigma measures have been validated for use with ALHIV in Sub-Saharan Africa. This paper reports on a two-stage study in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Firstly, we conducted a cross-cultural adaptation of an HIV stigma scale, previously used with US ALHIV. One-on-one semi-structured cognitive interviews were conducted with 9 urban and rural ALHIV. Three main themes emerged: 1) participants spoke about experiences of HIV stigma specific to a Southern African context, such as anticipating stigma from community members due to 'punishment from God or ancestors'; 2) participants' responses uncovered discrepancies between what the items intended to capture and how they understood them and 3) participants' interpretation of wording uncovered redundant items. Items were revised or removed in consultation with participants. Secondly, we psychometrically assessed and validated this adapted ALHIV stigma scale (ALHIV-SS). We used total population sampling in 53 public healthcare facilities with community tracing. 721 ALHIV who Child Ind Res