title: Measuring HIV felt stigma: a culturally adapted scale targeting PLWHA in Puerto Rico.
abstract: The objective of this study was to culturally adapt and validate a scale to measure HIV-related felt stigma in a group of People living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in Puerto Rico. The researchers conducted a two-phase cross-sectional study with 216 participants (60, first phase; 156, second phase). The first phase consisted of the cultural adaptation of the scale; the second evaluated its psychometric properties. After conducting a factor analysis, a 17-item scale, the HIV Felt-Stigma Scale (HFSS), resulted. Participants completed the Puerto Rico Comprehensive Center for the Study of Health Disparities Socio-demographic Questionnaire, the HFSS, the Beck Depression Inventory-II, and the Sexual Abuse dimension of the History of Abuse Questionnaire; the case managers completed the Case Manager Stigma Guide with subjects. The HFSS measures four dimensions: personalized stigma, disclosure concerns, negative self-image, and concern with public attitudes. The alpha and Pearson correlation coefficients (0.91 and 0.68, respectively) indicated satisfactory validity and reliability; the scale suggested adequate convergent validity. The HFSS is a culturally sensitive instrument that fills the existing gap in the measurement of felt stigma in Spanish-speaking PLWHA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Ponce, Puerto Rico. jujich@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Julio Cesar
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Jimenez
authors.forename: Marieva
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Puig
authors.forename: Juan Carlos
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Ramos
authors.forename: Marangelie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morales
authors.forename: Gloria
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Asencio
authors.forename: Ana Cecilia
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Sala
authors.forename: Eida
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Castro
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Velez Santori
authors.forename: Lydia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Santiago
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zorrilla
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003469:Culture; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011287:Prejudice; D011594:Psychometrics; D011647:Puerto Rico / Q000208:ethnology