Article Text
Abstract
Introduction Stigma can impede the implementation of HIV prevention and treatment programmes. Many measurement scales have been developed, though few have addressed intersecting stigmas: that is to say, multiple stigmas faced by people living with HIV, and key populations at high risk of HIV.
Methods We developed an approach to measure intersecting stigmas nested within the HPTN 071 (PopART) trial, conducted in South Africa and Zambia. We adopted best-practice wording to assess key domains of stigma, building on a process of global consultative indicator harmonisation. We designed nested data collection items in surveys for parallel use among the general population, health workers and people living with HIV (PLHIV) - including health workers living with HIV - to assess the same phenomena from multiple perspectives. We also designed “parallel” assessments of key population stigma within the health care worker survey to compare the attitudes and perceptions of health care workers towards PLHIV, and those at increased risk of HIV infection, such as migrants, sex workers, MSM, young women, and people with disabilities.
A core set of seven questions was included in the HPTN071 (PopART) surveys conducted among the general population (over 10,000 individuals), PLHIV (about 4000 individuals) and health care workers (over 1000 individuals). These items assessed two key domains of HIV stigma: drivers of stigma and manifestations of stigma. In the health care worker survey, questions specific to key populations were also included, to assess health care worker attitudes, experiences and perceptions about those at increased risk of HIV as listed above. We developed an approach to visually represent the complex data set using methods based on social-network analysis.
We developed an approach to assess intersecting HIV-related stigmas, incorporating data collected from different population groups. Data collection is ongoing.
Disclosure of interest statement HPTN 071 is sponsored by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) under Cooperative Agreements UM1-AI068619, UM1-AI068617, and UM1-AI068613, with funding from the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). Additional funding is provided by the International Initiative for Impact Evaluation (3ie) with support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, as well as by NIAID, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), all part of NIH. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIAID, NIMH, NIDA, PEPFAR, 3ie, or the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. We have no conflicts of interest to declare.