Open AccessDevelopment and Validation of the Community PrEP-Related Stigma Scale (Community-PSS)
Author(s) -
Angel B. Algarin,
Cho Hee Shrader,
Benjamin T. Hackworth,
Nelson Varas-Díaz,
Kristopher Fennie,
Diana M. Sheehan,
Gladys Ibáñez
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
aids education and prevention
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.309
H-Index - 73
eISSN - 1943-2755
pISSN - 0899-9546
DOI - 10.1521/aeap.2021.33.2.120
Subject(s) - cronbach's alpha , stigma (botany) , pre exposure prophylaxis , condom , scale (ratio) , clinical psychology , construct validity , psychology , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , medicine , men who have sex with men , social psychology , psychometrics , psychiatry , family medicine , physics , syphilis , quantum mechanics
Despite increasing availability of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), HIV prevention efforts have stalled. It is important to study potential barriers to HIV prevention methods, such as pre-exposure prophylaxis stigma. This study aims to develop and validate the Community PrEP-related Stigma Scale (Community-PSS) to address gaps in the literature. Participants were 108 sexual and gender minority men recruited through virtual and community-posted advertisements in Florida. The authors assessed reliability using Cronbach's alpha analysis, determined scale components using principal component analysis, and assessed construct validity based on five a priori hypotheses. The scale had high internal consistency (α = 0.86) and four components (stigma of actions outside of sex, stigma of sexual actions, extreme stigma perceptions, and positive community perception). The Community-PSS was valid, supporting four out of five hypotheses and in the expected directions. The Community-PSS was a valid and reliable tool in the sample and correlates with a previously validated PrEP stigma scale, HIV knowledge, PrEP knowledge, and likelihood of condom use with a partner on PrEP.