Development of a scale for attitude toward condom use for migrant workers in India.
BACKGROUND
The propaganda for the use of condoms remains one of the mainstay for prevention of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission. In spite of the proven efficacy of condom, some moral, social and psychological obstacles are still prevalent, hindering the use of condoms.


OBJECTIVE
The study tried to construct a short condom-attitude scale for use among the migrant workers, a major bridge population in India.


METHODS
The study was conducted among the male migrant workers who were 18-49 years old, sexually active and had heard about condoms and were engaged in nonformal jobs. We recruited 234 and 280 candidates for Phase 1 and Phase 2 respectively.


METHODS
Ten items from the original 40-item Brown's ATC (attitude towards condom) scale were selected in Phase 1. After analysis of Phase 1 results, using principal component analysis six items were found appropriate for measuring attitude towards condom use. These six items were then administered in another group in Phase 2. Utilizing Pearson's correlations, scale items were examined in terms of their mean response scores and the correlation matrix between items. Cornbach's alpha and construct validity were also assessed for the entire sample.


RESULTS
Study subjects were categorized as condom users and nonusers. The scale structure was explored by analyzing response scores with respect to the items, using principal component analysis followed by varimax rotation analysis. Principal component analysis revealed that the first factor accounted for 71% of the variance, with eigenvalue greater than one. Eigenvalues of the second factor was less than one. Application of screen test suggests only one factor was dominant. Mean score of six items among condom users was 20.45 and that among nonusers was 16.67, which was statistically significant (P<0.01). Cornbach's alpha coefficient was 0.92.


CONCLUSIONS
This tailor-made attitude-toward-condom-use scale, targeted for most vulnerable people in India, can be included in any rapid survey for assessing the existing beliefs and attitudes toward condoms and also for evaluating efficacy of an intervention program.
Talukdar
Arunansu
A
Department of Medicine, Calcutta National Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata, India. dratalukdar@gmail.com
Bal
Runa
R
Sanyal
Debasis
D
Roy
Krishnendu
K
Talukdar
Payel Sengupta
PS
D000328:Adult; D001290:Attitude; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015658:HIV Infections; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D021841:Safe Sex / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014171:Transients and Migrants / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult