We assessed stigma utilizing a validated questionnaire with three sub-scales
measuring negative attitudes toward PLWH, perceived discrimination in the
community toward PLWH, and support for equitable treatment of PLWH (Genberg et al.,
2009 ). Higher scores indicate higher levels of stigma (Genberg, 2009 (link)).
The study team created this questionnaire using assessment items provided in
the 2006United States
Agency for International Development (USAID, 2006) report on
HIV/AIDS stigma to measure stigma in a general, non-medical population (and
not specific to PLWH). The USAID Report documents indicators and
accompanying questions to promote the quantitative measurement of
HIV-related stigma for practitioners, policy makers, and donor agencies to
document the impact of their programs on stigma. HIV-associated stigma was
assessed one time before the didactic presentation.
HIV knowledge was assessed before and after the didactic presentation using a
22-item questionnaire with forced-choice statements (“true,” “false,” “don’t
know”) that elicited HIV knowledge. This questionnaire contained all 18
items from the HIV-KQ-18, a scale designed to assess HIV knowledge in both
clinical and nonclinical settings, and four items from the HIV-KQ-45 (a
longer, 45-item scale from which the HIV-KQ-18 was adapted) (Carey & Schroder,
2002 ). The additional four items were: (1) a person can get HIV
from a toilet seat, (2) it is possible to get HIV when a person gets a
tattoo, (3) you can usually tell if someone has HIV by looking at them, and
(4) cleaning a syringe multiple times with bleach and water before using it
again kills HIV. Both the stigma and knowledge questionnaires were
administered anonymously via the Zoom poll feature.
After the presentation and assessments, barbers participated in a focus group
discussion. They were introduced to the Partnership objectives through a
brief presentation, and then a study team member facilitated a discussion
around four key issues: (1) health issues and concerns shared with the
barbers by their clients, (2) barrier their clients faced to accessing
health care, (3) role barbers could play in helping or motivating clients to
get into or stay in HIV care to be healthy, and (4) potential barriers and
facilitators to barber/barbershop-based initiatives focused on HIV care and
treatment for Black men. Within Item 3, barbers were probed about comfort
with sharing information about HIV, barbershop-based HIV testing, and access
to HIV treatment within barbershops.
measuring negative attitudes toward PLWH, perceived discrimination in the
community toward PLWH, and support for equitable treatment of PLWH (
2009
The study team created this questionnaire using assessment items provided in
the 2006
Agency for International Development (USAID, 2006)
HIV/AIDS stigma to measure stigma in a general, non-medical population (and
not specific to PLWH). The USAID Report documents indicators and
accompanying questions to promote the quantitative measurement of
HIV-related stigma for practitioners, policy makers, and donor agencies to
document the impact of their programs on stigma. HIV-associated stigma was
assessed one time before the didactic presentation.
HIV knowledge was assessed before and after the didactic presentation using a
22-item questionnaire with forced-choice statements (“true,” “false,” “don’t
know”) that elicited HIV knowledge. This questionnaire contained all 18
items from the HIV-KQ-18, a scale designed to assess HIV knowledge in both
clinical and nonclinical settings, and four items from the HIV-KQ-45 (a
longer, 45-item scale from which the HIV-KQ-18 was adapted) (
2002
from a toilet seat, (2) it is possible to get HIV when a person gets a
tattoo, (3) you can usually tell if someone has HIV by looking at them, and
(4) cleaning a syringe multiple times with bleach and water before using it
again kills HIV. Both the stigma and knowledge questionnaires were
administered anonymously via the Zoom poll feature.
After the presentation and assessments, barbers participated in a focus group
discussion. They were introduced to the Partnership objectives through a
brief presentation, and then a study team member facilitated a discussion
around four key issues: (1) health issues and concerns shared with the
barbers by their clients, (2) barrier their clients faced to accessing
health care, (3) role barbers could play in helping or motivating clients to
get into or stay in HIV care to be healthy, and (4) potential barriers and
facilitators to barber/barbershop-based initiatives focused on HIV care and
treatment for Black men. Within Item 3, barbers were probed about comfort
with sharing information about HIV, barbershop-based HIV testing, and access
to HIV treatment within barbershops.
