Psychometric properties of a Spanish version of the 10-item Berger's stigma scale in Colombia: a validation study

Introduction: HIV-related stigma is detrimental to people living with HIV (PLH), and reducing it is essential for achieving an HIV/AIDS-free generation. Abbreviated stigma scales can improve the feasibility of surveys that broadly explore factors affecting PLH. This study tested the psychometric pr...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: David Montaño, Jorge Martínez-Cajas, Louise Balfour, Héctor Fabio Mueses, Jaime Galindo, Beatriz Alvarado
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile 2020-09-01
Series:ARS Medica
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Online Access:https://www.arsmedica.cl/index.php/MED/article/view/1633
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Summary:Introduction: HIV-related stigma is detrimental to people living with HIV (PLH), and reducing it is essential for achieving an HIV/AIDS-free generation. Abbreviated stigma scales can improve the feasibility of surveys that broadly explore factors affecting PLH. This study tested the psychometric properties of a Spanish translation of the abbreviated 10-item Berger's HIV stigma scale. Methods: We recruited a sample of 105 PLH regularly attending a specialized clinic in Cali, Colombia. English-to-Spanish and Spanish-to-English back translation was performed of the Berger's 10-item HIV stigma scale. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were carried out to assess its validity. Pre- and post-test reliability (15 days) was estimated with the intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC). Results: The Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was used to confirm a two-factor solution with three poor items removed, resulting in a 7-item HIV Stigma Scale. The resulting 7-item HIV stigma scale had a Cronbach's alpha of 0.73 with an ICC of 0.83 (CI 95%: 0.75–0.89). One factor loaded three items related to negative self-image (internalised stigma), and the other four items were related to personalized (enacted) HIV stigma. Both factors were related to depression and adherence to antiretroviral therapy. Conclusion: The Spanish translation of the 10-item HIV stigma scale did not perform well due to problems in items 4, 5, and 6. Rather, a modified 7-item version had a good fit with a two-factor loading in which both HIV stigma factors correlated significantly with depression and HIV medication adherence. 
ISSN:0718-1051
0719-1855