The Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Stigma Scale: Preliminary findings from a pilot study.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Social Sciences
• Medical Sociology

Background:

• Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) is crucial for HIV prevention but faces slow uptake in at-risk populations.
• Men who have sex with men (MSM) represent a significant portion of new HIV diagnoses in the U.S., yet PrEP adoption remains suboptimal.
• Understanding barriers to PrEP use among MSM is essential for effective HIV prevention strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a reliable scale measuring stigma associated with HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP).
• To assess the psychometric properties of the PrEP Stigma Scale in a diverse sample of men who have sex with men (MSM).
• To provide a tool for researchers to investigate the impact of stigma on PrEP utilization among MSM.

Main Methods:

• A 22-item PrEP Stigma Scale was administered to 273 diverse MSM.
• Data collection included awareness of PrEP, information sources, perceived stigma, and barriers to use.
• Cronbach's alpha and factor analysis were used to evaluate the scale's reliability and structure.

Main Results:

• The PrEP Stigma Scale demonstrated high reliability in both its 22-item (alpha=0.96) and 11-item (alpha=0.95) versions.
• Reliability was consistent across various demographic subgroups, including age, race, sexual orientation, education, relationship status, and HIV serostatus.
• Factor analysis identified two subscales, both exhibiting excellent reliability (alpha=0.95 and 0.94).

Conclusions:

• The PrEP Stigma Scale is a reliable and promising instrument for understanding low PrEP adoption among MSM.
• The scale's consistent reliability across diverse subgroups supports its utility in varied research contexts.
• This validated tool can facilitate further research into stigma as a barrier to PrEP use and inform targeted interventions.