Brief HIV stigma scale for Japanese people living with HIV: validation and restructuring using questionnaire survey data

Abstract

This study aimed of validating a ten-item HIV stigma scale that was originally developed in the U.S.A. and adapting it for Japanese adults with HIV. To adapt the HIV stigma scale for Japanese adults with HIV, a forward–backward translation method was employed. We assessed its validity and reliability using questionnaire survey data collected from 463 Japanese adults with HIV between August 2017 and February 2018. Although the validity was acceptable, the internal consistency in two subcategories in the Japanese version of the HIV stigma scale was low (ω: 0.63, 0.60). Therefore, we performed exploratory factor analysis, which suggested a different model consisting of two subcategories. Then, we assessed the reliability and validity of the scale. The omega values were between 0.83 and 0.89, the absolute correlations (|r|) to other psychological scales for external validity were between 0.34 and 0.51, and the non-response rates for feasibility were between 0.9 and 1.8. The Japanese version of the HIV stigma scale therefore had sufficient reliability and validity. This questionnaire may help identify individuals that need increased care, which may improve their quality of life.