Table 1.
Variables From Health Worker Interview
| Variable and Items | # of Items | Range | α a | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| General knowledge | HIV Knowledge Index: % correct of 6 items (AIDS caused by virus/Menstruation washes away [false]/Cured by sex with virgin [false]/Not likely by: Giving blood/Mosquito bites/Using public toilet) | 6 | 0-100% | .74 |
| HIV ABCs Prevention Index: # mentioned when asked how a person can prevent HIV (Abstain/Be faithful or reduce partners/Condoms) | 1 | 0-3 | – | |
| Attitudes about HIV and AIDS | Hope Index: mean of 2 items: 4 (very likely) to 1 (not likely) (How likely: Stop HIV spread in Malawi/People will change sexual behavior) | 2 | 1-4 | – |
| Stigma Attitude–Blame: A person living with HIV is to blame for being infected: 3 (should be blamed), 2 (don't know), 1 (not to be blamed) | 1 | 1 | – | |
| Stigma Attitude–Contact Index: mean of two items: 3 (permitted), 2 (don't know), 1 (not permitted) (Person living with HIV should be permitted: In public places/To cook a family meal) | 2 | 1-3 | .75 | |
| Favor HIV Test: mean of two items: 2 (agree), 1 (disagree or don't know) (Afraid of positive results/No point in being tested because no cure [reversed]) | 2 | 1-2 | – | |
| Condom Attitudes Scale: % positive of 10 items (sexual enjoyment for self and partner, three items; indicates promiscuity, five items; effective prevention, two items) | 10 | 0-100% | .77 | |
| Self-Efficacy for Community Prevention: mean of two items; 1 (not confident), 2 (somewhat confident), 3 (very confident) (Can talk about HIV prevention/safer sex with friends and relatives/own children) | 2 | 1-3 | – | |
| Self-Efficacy for Safer Sex: mean of six items: 1 (not confident), 2 (somewhat confident), 3 (very confident) (Can abstain if decide not to have sex/Talk about safer sex with partner/Get partner to agree to use condoms/Refuse sex without a condom/Get condoms/Use condoms correctly) | 6 | 1-3 | .80 | |
| Personal and community behaviors | Partner Communication Index: sum of two items: 1 (yes), 0 (no) (Talk with partner in last 2 months about safer sex/condoms) | 2 | 0-2 | – |
| Risky Sex Behaviors Index: # of five risky sex behaviors in last 2 months (Unprotected Sex/Multiple Partners/Sex at bars/Sex for money/Sexually transmitted infection symptoms) | 5 | 0-5 | – | |
| HIV Test in Last 12 Months: 1(yes), 0 (no) | 1 | 0-1 | – | |
| Community HIV Prevention Index: # of six activities reported for last 2 months (Led discussion; Talked prevention/safer sex with: partner/other adults/own children/other young people; Contributed money or time) | 6 | 0-6 | – |
a
Internal consistency coefficient, Cronbach's alpha (α).