Question-Order Effect Experiment to Measure HIV Stigma

Question-Order Effect Experiment to Measure HIV Stigma Among Persons With HIV (PWH) in Rural Uganda

Question-order effect experiment to measure HIV-related stigma among people living with HIV (PWH).

HIV-related stigma is a barrier to engagement in HIV prevention and treatment. Given the negative impact of stigma on the HIV continuum of care, accurate assessment of HIV-related stigma among people living with HIV (PWH) in resource-limited settings is paramount. The purpose of this study is to conduct a question order experiment to assess the extent to which the order of presented questions affects measurement of HIV-related stigma.

Inclusion Criteria:

- All HIV-positive (self-reported) adults who consider Nyakabare their primary place of residence and who are capable of providing consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• Minors younger than 18 years of age, with the exception of emancipated minors
• Persons who do not consider Nyakabare Parish their primary place of residence, e.g. persons who happen to be visiting Nyakabare at the time of the survey or who own a home in Nyakabare but spend most of their time outside of the parish
• Persons with psychosis, neurological damage, acute intoxication, or other cognitive impairment (all of which are determined informally in the field by non-clinical research staff in consultation with a supervisor)
• Persons who are not HIV positive