Psychometric properties of a short version of the HIV stigma scale, adapted for children with HIV infection

Table 1 Items, stigma dimensions and missing values in the HSSC-12, items retained in the final scale marked with ^a (N = 58)

Item	Dimension	Missing values (%)
1. I work hard to keep my HIV a secret^a	Disclosure concerns	0.0
2. Most people believe a person who has HIV is dirty^a	Public attitudes	3.4
3. Having HIV makes me feel unclean^a	Negative self-image	8.6
4. Most people think a person with HIV is disgusting^a	Public attitudes	1.7
5. Having HIV makes me feel I'm a bad person^a	Negative self-image	0.0
6. Most with HIV are rejected when others learn^a	Public attitudes	5.2
7. I am very careful whom I tell that I have HIV^a	Disclosure concerns	3.4
8. Having HIV in my body feels disgusting^a	Negative self-image	0.0
9. I have been hurt by how people reacted to learning I have HIV	Personalized stigma	19.0
10. I worry that people who know I have HIV will tell others	Disclosure concerns	13.8
11. I have stopped socializing with some due to their reactions to my HIV	Personalized stigma	19.0
12. I have lost friends by telling them I have HIV	Personalized stigma	24.1

Abbreviation: HSSC-12 = HIV Stigma Scale for Children, preliminary 12-item version.
^aItems retained in the final scale.

ISSN: 1477-7525