title: Validity and Reliability of Persian Version of HIV/AIDS Related Stigma Scale for People Living With HIV/AIDS in Iran.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the perceived HIV/AIDS related stigma a comprehensive and well developed stigma instrument is necessary. This study aimed to assess validity and reliability of the Persian version of HIV/AIDS related stigma scale which was developed by Kang et al for people living with HIV/AIDS in Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thescale was forward translatedby two bilingual academic members then both translations were discussed by expert team. Back-translation was done by two other bilingual translators then we carried out discussion with both of them. To evaluate understandability the scale was administered to 10 Persons Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). Final Persian version was administered to 80 PLWHA in Qom, Iran in 2014. Test-retest reliability was assessed in a sample of 20 PLWHA after a week by intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cronbach's alpha coefficient for overall scale was 0.85. Also Cronbach's alpha coefficients for the five subscales were as follows: social rejection (9 items, α = 0.84), negative self-worth (4 items, α = 0.70), perceived interpersonal insecurity (2 items, α = 0.57), financial insecurity (3 items, α = 0.70), discretionary disclosure (2 items, α = 0.83). Test-retest reliability was also approved with ICC = 0.78. Correlation between items and their hypothesized subscale is greater than 0.5. Correlation between an item and its own subscale was significantly higher than its correlation with other subscales.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrate that the Persian version of HIV/AIDS related stigma scale is valid and reliable to assess HIV/AIDS related stigma perceived by people living whit HIV/AIDS in Iran.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Reproductive Health Research Center, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran.
authors.forename: Davoud
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pourmarzi
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran.
authors.forename: Ashraf
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khoramirad
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Education, M.sc in Midwifery, PhD Student of Medical Education, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Hoda
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ahmari Tehran
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran.
authors.forename: Zahra
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Abedini
keywords: HIV/AIDS; Iran; Stigma; Validity