Dataset Information

Psychometric Properties of an Adapted Stigma Scale and Experiences of Stigma Associated with HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Use Among Men Who have Sex with Men: A Mixed Methods Study.

ABSTRACT: Stigma may influence the use of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). However, there is an absence of robust measures for PrEP-related stigma. We describe an adaptation of a HIV stigma scale for use in PrEP users and experiences of PrEP users in Wales (UK) with regards to PrEP-related stigma. A mixed methods study was conducted where PrEP users completed questionnaire items about PrEP-related stigma and a subset were interviewed about their experiences of taking PrEP. We adapted items from the HIV stigma scale and assessed construct validity and internal consistency. We analysed interview data using a framework approach, with themes focussing on enacted and anticipated stigma in order to identify areas for scale refinement. Our measure had good psychometric properties but additional items may be useful (e.g. specific instances of enacted stigma, concerns around homonegativity). Further work is needed to develop this scale and validate it in a larger sample.

SUBMITTER: Gillespie D

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10224859 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Psychometric Properties of an Adapted Stigma Scale and Experiences of Stigma Associated with HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Use Among Men Who have Sex with Men: A Mixed Methods Study.

Gillespie David D Williams Adam A Wood Fiona F Couzens Zoë Z Jones Adam A Ma Richard R de Bruin Marijn M Hughes Dyfrig A DA Hood Kerenza K

AIDS and behavior 20230109 7

Stigma may influence the use of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). However, there is an absence of robust measures for PrEP-related stigma. We describe an adaptation of a HIV stigma scale for use in PrEP users and experiences of PrEP users in Wales (UK) with regards to PrEP-related stigma. A mixed methods study was conducted where PrEP users completed questionnaire items about PrEP-related stigma and a subset were interviewed about their experiences of taking PrEP. We adapted items from the HI ...[more]

PMID: 36622489

Similar Datasets

Project description:IntroductionHIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) involves the use of antiretroviral medication in HIV-negative individuals considered to be at risk of acquiring HIV. It has been shown to prevent HIV and has been available in Wales since July 2017. Measuring and understanding adherence to PrEP is complex as it relies on the simultaneous understanding of both PrEP use and sexual activity. We aimed to understand the experiences of men who have sex with men (MSM) living in Wales initiating, implementing and persisting with HIV PrEP.MethodsWe conducted semistructured interviews with MSM PrEP users in Wales who participated in a cohort study of PrEP use and sexual behaviour. Following completion of the cohort study, participants were invited to take part in a semistructured interview about their experiences of taking PrEP. We aimed to include both individuals who had persisted with and discontinued PrEP during the study. The interview topic guide was informed by the ABC taxonomy for medication adherence and the theory of planned behaviour. We analysed our data using reflexive thematic analysis.ResultsTwenty-one participants were interviewed, five having discontinued PrEP during the cohort study. The developed themes focused on triggers for initiating PrEP, habitual behaviour, drivers for discontinuation and engagement with sexual health services. Stigma surrounding both PrEP and HIV permeated most topics, acting as a driver for initiating PrEP, an opportunity to reduce discrimination against people living with HIV, but also a concern around the perception of PrEP users.ConclusionThis is the first study to investigate PrEP-taking experiences incorporating established medication adherence taxonomy. We highlight key experiences regarding the initiation, implementation and persistence with PrEP and describe how taking PrEP may promote positive engagement with sexual health services. These findings may be useful for informing PrEP rollout programmes and need to be explored in other key populations.Patient and public contributionPrEP users, in addition to PrEP providers and representatives of HIV advocacy and policy, were involved in developing the topic guide for this study.

Project description:IntroductionAs oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) services scale up throughout sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), clients continue to face challenges with sustained PrEP use. PrEP-related stigma has been shown to influence engagement throughout the HIV PrEP care continuum throughout SSA. Validated quantitative measures of PrEP-related stigma in SSA are of critical importance to better understand its impacts at each stage of the HIV PrEP care continuum. This study aimed to psychometrically evaluate a PrEP-related stigma scale for use among key and vulnerable populations in the context of a Kenya national PrEP programme.MethodsAs part of a larger prospective cohort study nested within Kenya's Jilinde programme, this study used baseline data collected from 1135 participants between September 2018 and April 2020. We used exploratory factor analysis to evaluate the factor structure of a PrEP-related stigma scale. We also assessed convergent construct validity of the PrEP-Related Stigma Scale by testing for expected correlations with depression and uptake of HIV services. Finally, we examined the relationship between PrEP-related stigma and key demographic, psychosocial and behavioural characteristics.ResultsWe identified four dimensions of PrEP-related stigma: (1) interpersonal stigma, (2) PrEP norms, (3) negative self-image and (4) disclosure concerns. The scale demonstrated strong internal consistency (α = 0.84), was positively correlated with depressive symptoms and negatively correlated with uptake of HIV services. Multivariable regression analysis demonstrated associations between PrEP-related stigma and sex worker identity.ConclusionsThe adapted and validated PrEP-Related Stigma Scale can enable programmes to quantify how PrEP-related stigma and its dimensions may differentially impact outcomes on the HIV PrEP care continuum, evaluate stigma interventions and tailor programmes accordingly. Opportunities exist to validate the scale in other populations and explore further dimensions of PrEP-related stigma.

Dataset Information

Psychometric Properties of an Adapted Stigma Scale and Experiences of Stigma Associated with HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Use Among Men Who have Sex with Men: A Mixed Methods Study.

Publications

Psychometric Properties of an Adapted Stigma Scale and Experiences of Stigma Associated with HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Use Among Men Who have Sex with Men: A Mixed Methods Study.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets