Psychometric Properties of the Colombian Version of the HIV Attitudes Scale for Adolescents

• Main Authors: Mayra Gómez-Lugo, Alexandra Morales, Alejandro Saavedra-Roa, Janivys Niebles-Charris, Paola García-Roncallo, Laurent Marchal-Bertrand, Jos Pedro Espada, Pablo Vallejo-Medina
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-06-01
• Series: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
• Subjects: HIV/AIDS; attitudes; validity; adolescent; Colombia
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/13/4686

The HIV Attitudes Scale (HIV-AS) evaluates attitudes towards different aspects of HIV. In view of the lack of scales measuring this construct in Colombia, this study sought to validate the HIV-AS test for adolescents from Colombia. A total of 867 Colombian students, aged between 14 and 19 years (M<i> </i>= 15.97 years; SD<i> </i>= 1.37) were evaluated. Participants responded to the HIV-AS test and a set of scales used to assess external validity. Content validity analyses reflected good adequacy indices for the items. Exploratory factor analyses revealed a four-factor structure and reliability indices were satisfactory. The structural equation model showed good levels of fit. Most of the items presented a discrimination index above 0.30 and contributed to the reliability of the scale, except for item 9, which was eliminated. Concurrent validity showed significant correlations among the HIV-AS and other similar constructs. A reliable measurement of attitudes toward HIV allows for an improved assessment of the risk associated with exposure to sexually transmitted infections in adolescent populations.