Table 2.

Social support and HIV-related stigma – total scale scores, item-specific responses, and Cronbach’s alpha (α) coefficients

Variable	Mean score (SD)	α
Perceived availability of support1	4.2 (0.8)	0.92
Instrumental support	4.2 (0.9)	0.88
Is there someone who would help take care of you if you had to stay in bed for several		0.87
weeks?	4.4 (1.0)
Is there someone you could turn to if you needed to borrow R10, get a ride to the doctor, or		0.87
some other small immediate help?	4.2 (1.2)
Is there someone you could turn to if you needed to borrow some money to help pay your		0.91
rent for one month?	3.4 (1.6)
Is there someone who could take care of your children if you got sick?	4.4 (1.0)	0.87
Is there someone who would help you or be with you when you are having the baby?	4.2 (1.2)	0.87
Is there someone who would help you take care of the baby, after the new baby is born?	4.2 (1.2)	0.87
Is there someone who would help take care of you if you had problems with your	4.4 (1.0)	0.86
pregnancy?  Is there someone who would help when you get far along in your pregnancy?	4.4 (1.0)	0.86
Emotional support	4.4 (0.9)	0.92
Would someone be available to talk to you if you were upset, nervous or depressed?	4.4 (1.0)	0.90
Is there someone you could contact if you wanted to talk about an important personal		0.89
problem you were having?	4.4 (1.0)
Would the people in your personal life give you information, suggestions, or guidance if		0.90
you needed it?	4.3 (1.1)
Is there someone you could turn to if you needed advice to help make a decision?	4.4 (1.1)	0.90
HIV-related stigma2	2.2 (0.8)	0.84
Social rejection	1.7 (0.8)	0.75
I feel others are concerned they could “catch” my HIV through contact like a handshake or eating food I make.	1.8 (0.9)
I feel others avoid me because of my HIV.	1.7 (0.8)
Internalized shame	2.4 (0.9)	0.80
I do not feel I can be open with others about my HIV.	2.6 (1.4)	0.70
I feel I need to keep my HIV a secret.	2.6 (1.4)	0.71
Due to my HIV, I have a sense of being unequal in my relationships with others.	1.8 (1.0)	0.79
I feel like I am a bad mother because I am HIV-positive.	1.9 (1.0)	0.76
I worry about who will take care of my baby if I become sick.	2.8 (1.5)	0.82

¹Items scored between 1 and 5, with higher scores indicating greater perceived availability of support;

²Items scored between 1 and 5, with higher scores indicating greater stigma