Measuring and assessing HIV/AIDS stigma and discrimination among migrant workers in Zhejiang, China.

Haiyan Xing,Wei Yu,Ya Li

doi:10.1186/s12889-016-3518-7

Haiyan Xing, Wei Yu + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-016-3518-7

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Abstract

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to develop a Chinese HIV/AIDS Stigma Scale (C-HSS) and test its reliability and validity among migrant workers in eastern China.MethodsNine hundred sixty four migrant workers completed the C-HSS questionnaire in Zhejiang province. The Split-half reliability coefficient (R) and Cronbach’s alpha coefficient (a) for internal consistency of the scale were used. Factor analysis was applied for construct validity. Scores of total and subscales were compared among migrants. Correlation between scores and knowledge of HIV/AIDS was analyzed.ResultsThe 24-items scale and the four subscales of C-HSS had good internal consistency (R overall was 0.877, subscales ranged from 0.693 to 0.862; Cronbach’s alpha overall was 0.845, subscales ranged from 0.709 to 0.810). Correlation coefficients between each domain and total score were significant (p < 0.01). The cumulative contribution rate was 54.17 % by five public factors based on exploratory factor analysis. Except for the thirteenth item and twentieth item, four public factors were in accordance with the basic conceived concept. The confirmatory factor analysis indicated a good fit to the data for the four-domain structure. Negative correlation existed between the level of HIV/AIDS knowledge and stigma.ConclusionThe results suggest that the C-HSS is a reliable and valid measure for HIV/AIDS stigma in migrant workers.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12889-016-3518-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Highlights

The aim of this study was to develop a Chinese Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) Stigma Scale (C-HSS) and test its reliability and validity among migrant workers in eastern China
The results provided a good fit to the data lending support to the original hypothesized structure of the questionnaire with comparative fit index (CFI) = 0.915, Tucker-Lewis index (TLI) = 0.901, Standardized root mean square residual (SRMR) = 0.053, root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.042, 90 % CI RMSEA = 0.038 to 0.046
The study results indicated that older people, those single and people with lower educational status had more serious HIV/AIDS stigma compared to the younger migrants, those married or other marital status and those with better educational status

Summary

Introduction

The aim of this study was to develop a Chinese HIV/AIDS Stigma Scale (C-HSS) and test its reliability and validity among migrant workers in eastern China. Since 1990s, research on HIV and AIDS-related stigma has increased worldwidely. Many researchers suggest that stigma and discrimination is a barrier to the adoption of precautionary behaviors and reduces the quality of life of people living with HIV and AIDS [1, 2]. Stigma has been linked to reducing people’s willingness to seek voluntary HIV counselling and testing (VCT) [3]. Migrant workers are prone to have high-risk HIV behaviors, with a large proportion of male migrants visiting commercial sex workers (CSWs) either alone or in a group. Migrant workers who had high-risk behaviors spread sexually transmitted diseases or HIV to the general population when they moved from one place to another.

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