“3D” barriers towards HIV prevention – Distancing, Discrimination, & Disclosure concerns – Pilot test a “3D” scale suite among people living with HIV/AIDS and young adults

Purpose: This study developed and pilot tested a “3D” scale suite on HIV related distancing, discrimination, and disclosure concerns among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) and young adults.  METHODS: A 26-item HIV-3D scale with corresponding items measuring distancing (13-item), discrimination (5-item), and disclosure concerns (8-item) was developed.  A sample of PLWHA from a HIV primary care clinic (n=40) and a convenient young adult sample (n=52) in a small southern town participated in the study.  RESULTS: Results showed this scale had satisfactory internal consistencies in both groups.  Cronbach alphas for the HIV-3D scale suite were .930, .903, & .819 (CITC ranging .360~.847) among the young adults, and .933, .836, & .913 (CITC ranging .298~.898) among the PLWHA, respectively.  Although both groups showed similar level of disclosure concerns, PLWHA perceived significant higher levels of distancing and discrimination.  The scale means of PLWHA were 1.90 times of the young adult group on distancing (39.80 vs. 21.00) and 2.62 times on discrimination (14.53 vs. 5.54).  CONCLUSIONS: Results indicate all sub-scales were reliable in both groups.  Although PLWHA perceived higher distancing and discrimination, the corresponding perceptions towards PLWHA reported by the participating young adults were much lower.  Still, the young adult group reported similar high disclosure concerns if they had HIV.  This new and innovative corresponding scale suite allows HIV researchers to assess and directly compare these important HIV prevention barriers in both PLWHA and adult groups.  This tool provides new opportunity of evaluating the impact of HIV interventions addressing the “3-D” related barriers.