A cross-sectional study of Hiv-related stigma in university students and the rural community using parallel scales

Our study aimed to assess the levels of stigma using a parallel scale in the toeal population of Sabah with attempts to correlate the determinants of stigma in the local context towards people living with HIV/AIDS using the data collected 2009-2010. With the PPI funding, we collected more data from villages in Sikuati, Kudat (Kumpungs Korina, Laut, Tambuluran, Parapat laut , Parapat Darat, Merabau, Barabangan) and the medical students in 2011. The research was conducted in three phases: (1) mnstruction and formulation of items in the two parallel scales; (2) administration of the scales with an HIV knowledge scale in three study samples (village residents, medical students and norrmedical students of UMS) (3) analyses to validate the scales and mmpare the results. On statistical analysis, the three scales were proven to be internally consistent. The three prindple components of stigma -Interpersonal distancing," -shame and blame," and "Positive opinions about PlWHA," were confirmed. All components decreased with increasing level of education with a wide margin between the medical students and other groups. We confirmed the factor structure of personal stigma, using confirmatory factor analysis, (RMSEA= 0.061 (0.42-0.79), pclose=0.158). The fit of the factor structure for attributed stigma was not as good (RMSEA= 0.090 (0.71-0.10), pdose