Urdu translation and adaptation of the HIV stigma scale in Pakistani injectable drug users with HIV

Objective: To translate and adapt the human immunodeficiency virus stigma scale into Urdu language, and to determine its psychometric properties. Method: The study was conducted at the Human Immunodeficiency Virus / Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Treatment Centre at the Civil Hospital, Karachi, from February to April 2017. The scale was translated and administered on a sample of patients enrolled from the Centre who were aged 25-45 years and had been injecting drugs. The reliability of the measure was assessed by working out Cronbach's alpha, split-half reliability and test retest reliability. The construct validity was measured by correlating the scale with the constructs of depression and self-esteem. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS, 20. Results: There were 150 subjects with a mean age of 31.65 +/- 5.88 years. Internal consistency of the Urdu version of scale was 0.94 and that of the subscales ranged 0.81-0.91. Gutman split-half coefficient was 0.93 and test retest reliability was 0.92. The Urdu version of the scale had significant positive correlation with depression (p<0.01) and significant negative correlation with self-esteem (p<0.01). Conclusion: The Urdu version of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus Stigma Scale was found to have acceptable psychometric properties and it can be used in researches conducted in Pakistan.