Table 2.

Items Selected for Use in the Stigma Assessments

Enacted Stigma Index^a

Has a hospital worker mistreated you because of your HIV

Have people looked at you differently because you have HIV?

Has a healthcare worker not wanted to touch you because you have HIV?

Have you been told not to share your food or utensils with family because of your HIV?

Have you been asked not to touch or care for children because of your HIV?

Have you been refused medical care or denied hospital services because of your HIV?

Have family members forced you to move out of your home because you have HIV?

Has a hospital worker made your HIV infection publicly known by marking HIV on your medical record?

Has someone threatened to hurt you physically because you have HIV?

Have you been refused housing because people suspect you have HIV?

Vicarious Stigma (all items begin with the words, “How often have you heard stories about…”)^b

… a healthcare worker not wanting to touch someone because of his or her HIV?

… people being mistreated by hospital workers because of their HIV?

… people being refused medical care or denied hospital services because of their HIV?

… a healthcare provider talking publicly about a patient with HIV?

… someone being refused care from their family when they were sick with HIV?

… people being forced by family members to leave their home because they had HIV?

… a hospital worker making someone's HIV infection known by marking HIV on their medical records?

… families avoiding any relative who has HIV?

… people looking differently at those who have HIV?

… a village/community ostracizing someone because they had HIV?

Felt Normative Stigma Scale (all item begin with the words, “In your community,…”)^c

… how many mothers would not want someone with HIV to hold their new baby?

… how many mothers would not want an HIV-infected person to feed their children?

… how many people would not share dishes or glasses someone who has HIV?

… how many people think that HIV-infected people have brought shame on their families?

… how many people avoid visiting the homes of people with HIV?

… how may people think that if you have HIV you have done wrong behaviors?

… how many people would not want an HIV-infected person cooking for them?

… how many people think that people with HIV should feel guilty about it?

… how many people think that a person with HIV is disgusting?

… how many people think people with HIV are paying for their karma or sins?

Internalized Stigma Scale (all items begin with the words, “How much do you feel…”) ^d,^e

… that you should avoid holding a new infant because of your HIV?

… that you should avoid feeding children because of your HIV?

… that you should avoid sharing dishes or glasses just in case someone might catch HIV from you?

… that you have brought shame to your family because you have HIV?

… that you should avoid visiting people because of your HIV?

… that you have HIV because you have done wrong behaviors?

… that you should avoid cooking for people because you have HIV?

… guilty about having HIV?

… disgusting because of your HIV?

… that you are paying for karma or sins because you have HIV?

Responses were “No” (0) or “Yes (1)

Ratings were made on a 4-point scale ranging from Never (0) to Frequently (3)

Ratings were made on a 4-point scale ranging from No One (0) to Most People (3).

Ratings were made on a 4-point scale ranging from Not At All (0) to A Great Deal (3).

By design, internalized stigma items parallel items in the Felt Normative Stigma Scale.