Development of Measures for d/Deaf and Hard of Hearing Stigma: Introduction to the Special Supplement on Stigma Measurement Tools.

People who are d/Deaf or hard of hearing (d/DHH) often experience stigma and discrimination in their daily lives. Qualitative research describing their lived experiences has provided useful, in-depth insights into the pervasiveness of stigma. Quantitative measures could facilitate further investigation of the scope of this phenomenon. Thus, under the auspices of the Lancet Commission on Hearing Loss, we developed and preliminarily validated survey measures of different types of stigma related to d/Deafness and hearing loss in the United States (a high-income country) and Ghana (a lower-middle income country). In this introductory article, we first present working definitions of the different types of stigma; an overview of what is known about stigma in the context of hearing loss; and the motivation underlying the development of measures that capture different types of stigma from the perspectives of different key groups. We then describe the mixed-methods exploratory sequential approach used to develop the stigma measures for several key groups: people who are d/DHH, parents of children who are d/DHH, care partners of people who are d/DHH, healthcare providers, and the general population. The subsequent manuscripts in this special supplement of Ear and Hearing describe the psychometric validation of the various stigma scales developed using these methods.

Psychometric Evaluation of Screens for Common Mental Disorders, Severe Mental Disorders, Substance Use Disorders, and Suicide Risk in Mozambican Healthcare.

Globally, mental and substance use disorders are a leading cause of disease burden. In low- and middle-income countries, where there is an extreme shortage of trained mental health specialists, validated, brief screening tools for mental and substance use disorders are required for non-specialists to efficiently identify patients in need of mental health care. Mozambique, one of the poorest countries in the world, has fewer than two mental health specialists for every 100,000 people. In the present study, we evaluated a comprehensive set of seven measures for depression, anxiety, somatization, alcohol use disorder, substance use disorder, psychosis and mania, and suicide risk among N=911 Mozambican adults in general healthcare settings. All instruments demonstrated acceptable internal consistency (α > 0.75). Compared to diagnoses made by the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview, all measures showed good criterion validity (AUC > 0.75), except the Psychosis Screening Questionnaire, which showed low sensitivity (0.58) for psychotic disorder. No substantial differences were observed in internal consistency when stratifying by gender, age, education level, primary language, facility-type, and patient status; criterion validity showed some variability when stratified by sub-population, particularly for education, primary language, and whether the participant was seeking care that day. Exploratory factor analyses indicated that the measures best differentiate categories of diagnoses (common mental disorder, severe mental disorders, substance use disorders, and suicide risk) rather than individual diagnoses, suggesting the utility of a transdiagnostic approach. Our findings support the use of these measures in Mozambique to identify common mental disorders, substance use disorders, and suicide risk, but indicate further research is needed to develop an adequate screen for severe mental disorders. Given the limited mental health specialists in this and other LMIC settings, these brief measures can support non-specialist provision of mental health services and promote closure of the treatment gap.

Preliminary Validation of Measures of Experienced, Perceived, and Internalized Stigma Among Adults Who Are d/Deaf or Hard of Hearing in the United States and Ghana.

OBJECTIVES: In this article, we examine the psychometric performance of 3 scales measuring experienced, perceived, and internalized d/Deaf or hard of hearing (d/DHH) stigma among adult (18 and older) populations of individuals who are d/DHH, including those who have been d/DHH since before they developed language (lifelong) and those who became d/DHH after they developed language (acquired) in the United States and Ghana. DESIGN: The preliminary validation study took place in the Greater Accra and Eastern regions of Ghana and across the United States. In the United States, all data were collected online via self-administered surveys in English. In Ghana, trained interviewers who are d/DHH and fluent in Ghanaian Sign Language conducted interviews with participants who are lifelong d/DHH using a video survey. Ghanaian participants with acquired d/DHH status were surveyed by trained hearing interviewers. We calculated polychoric correlation matrices between the measures to remove redundant and unrelated items and used exploratory factor analysis to create the final scales. We also tested the association between the factor scores and a simple summing method for calculating the scale. RESULTS: The study sample included people who have been d/DHH since before they developed language (Ghana: n = 171, United States n = 100) and people who became d/DHH after they developed language (Ghana: n = 174, United States: n = 219). The final experienced, perceived, and internalized scales included six, seven, and five items, respectively. All three scales performed well as unidimensional measures across all four samples. Across the four samples, the experienced, perceived, and internalized stigma scales yielded ordinal αs ranging from 0.725 to 0.947, 0.856 to 0.935, and 0.856 to 0.935, respectively. It would be acceptable to operationalize all stigma scales as sum-of-item scores. CONCLUSIONS: The scales performed well and appear to provide a valid means of measuring different types of stigma among diverse groups of people who are d/DHH. Future work should refine and validate these scales in additional contexts.

Preliminary Validation of Hearing Device-Related Stigma Measures in Four United States Populations.

OBJECTIVES: Although hearing devices such as cochlear implants and hearing aids often improve communication, many people who are d/Deaf or hard of hearing (d/DHH) choose not to use them. Hearing device-related stigma, or negative societal beliefs about people who use hearing devices, often drives this decision. Although much research has documented the negative effects of hearing device-related stigma, no widely accepted, validated measure to quantify such stigma across populations currently exists. In this article, we describe the preliminary validation of four distinct but related scales measuring hearing device-related stigma in different populations, including people who use hearing devices and those close to them. DESIGN: We preliminarily validated four measures for quantifying hearing device-related stigma in different populations that were previously developed and refined through a literature review, Delphi interviews, cognitive interviews, and a pretest. We preliminarily validated these measures through self-administered online surveys in a convenience sample in the United States. Among participants who use a hearing device and who either (a) self-identified as being d/DHH before they developed language (lifelong; n = 78) or (b) those who self-identified as having acquired a d/DHH identity after they developed language (acquired n = 71), we validated an anticipated hearing device-related stigma scale (d/DHHS-LE-HDA). We validated three scales that measure perceived hearing device-related stigma observed by parents of children who are d/DHH and who use a hearing device (n = 79) (d/DHHS-P-HDPO), care partners of adults who are d/DHH and use a hearing device (n = 108) (d/DHHS-CP-HDPO), and health care providers (n = 203) (d/DHHS-HCP-HDSH). Exploratory factor analysis assessed the reliability of each measure. RESULTS: Each of the four scales loaded onto one factor. Factor loadings for the eight-item scale measuring anticipated hearing device-related stigma among the two populations with lived experience ranged from 0.635 to 0.910, with an ordinal α of 0.93 in the lifelong d/DHH participants and 0.94 among the acquired d/DHH participants. The six-item scale of perceived stigma observed by parents had item loadings from 0.630 to 0.920 (α = 0.91). The nine-item scale of hearing device-related stigma observed by care partners had item loadings from 0.554 to 0.922 (α = 0.95). The eight-item scale of hearing device-related stigma reported by health care providers had item loadings from 0.647 to 0.941 (α = 0.89). CONCLUSIONS: Preliminary validation results show that the four stigma measures perform well in their respective populations. The anticipated stigma scale performed similarly well for both lifelong d/DHH and acquired d/DHH, which suggests that it could perform well in different contexts. Future research should further validate the scales described here as well as measure hearing device-related stigma in different populations-including people who live in different geographic regions and people using different kinds of hearing devices-and evaluate the success of interventions developed to reduce hearing device-related stigma.

Preliminary Validation of Experienced Ageism Measures With Four Populations in the United States.

OBJECTIVES: Ageism appears widely across the globe and poses an important threat to older people's well-being and health. With respect to hearing health, experiences, perceptions, and fear of ageism can delay the diagnosis of hearing loss, reduce pursuit of hearing care, and fuel reluctance to wear a hearing device. Ageism intertwines with hearing loss stigma, which potentially deepens the negative effects of both; however, little evidence exists to quantify the effects of the intersection of ageism and hearing loss stigma. This lack of data on both hearing loss stigma and ageism, and their intersection, may stem from the lack of validated measures for both. Therefore, as part of a parent study to develop and preliminarily validate d/Deaf and hard of hearing stigma measures, we also adapted and preliminarily validated measures of both experienced and observed ageism. DESIGN: We adapted four ageism measures through a literature review, expert discussions, and cognitive interviews and validated them in the United States through self-administered online surveys with convenience samples of (1) people aged 60 and older who became d/Deaf or hard of hearing (d/DHH) after developing language or in adulthood ("acquired" d/DHH), (2) care partners of people aged 60 or older who are d/DHH (acquired), (3) health care providers, and (4) the general population. For each of the scales, we applied exploratory factor analysis and estimated scale reliability with ordinal α. RESULTS: For the population of persons over age 60 who are d/DHH (acquired) (N = 146), nine social stigma items and four employment discrimination items loaded well onto two separate factors, one which measures social stigma and one which measures employment discrimination. All loadings were >0.7. The two factors were moderately correlated at 0.428. For care partners of people aged 60 or older who are d/DHH (N = 72), nine items loaded well onto a single factor, with loadings between 0.650 and 0.936 and an ordinal α of 0.95. Among the general population (N = 312), 10 items loaded cleanly onto a single factor, with loadings between 0.702 and 0.919 and an ordinal α of 0.96. For the health care providers (N = 203), 11 items loaded well onto a single factor, with loadings between 0.541 and 0.874. For these three populations, each of the single factors measure social stigma. CONCLUSIONS: Ageism threatens the health and wellbeing of older people in both high- and low-income countries. Validated measures of ageism are necessary to understand the relationship between ageism, d/DHH stigma and the well-being of older adults and to design effective ageism-reduction and mitigation interventions. This preliminary validated set of experienced ageism measures offers a starting point for more studies that not only further validate these measures but are larger in scale, occur in more diverse settings, and provide insights into the experience of ageism and its effects on the health and well-being of older adults.

Research Agenda and Applications for Preliminarily Validated Measures of d/Deaf and Hard of Hearing Stigma.

In this special supplement of Ear and Hearing, we have presented preliminarily validated measures for stigma related to being d/Deaf or hard of hearing (d/DHH) in the United States and Ghana. In this concluding article, we suggest avenues for the future refinement and use of these measures. First, the measures should be further validated. Second, they should be used to assess the current state of d/DHH stigma and the importance of different kinds of stigma in different populations, which should in turn drive the development of interventions to reduce d/DHH stigma. Third, these measures can assist in evaluating the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of those interventions. The evidence from this work can then inform investment cases and cost-of-condition studies, which will support advocacy efforts and policy development for reducing stigma and improving the lives of people who are d/DHH.

Preliminary Validation of Stigma Measures Among Parents of Children Who Are d/Deaf or Hard of Hearing in the United States and Ghana.

OBJECTIVES: Parents are integral to the development and overall well-being of their child. Previous research has studied the emotional effects parenting experiences have on parents. However, parents caring for children with disabilities have unique parenting experiences, filled with both victories and challenges. Parenting a child with disabilities can bring additional responsibilities as parents respond to their child's special needs. Specifically, parents of children who are d/Deaf or hard of hearing (d/DHH) are required to make ongoing life-changing decisions about their child's life, including mode of communication, medical care, and education. Across the world, many adults who are d/DHH experience stigma. However, less is known about the stigma faced by children who are d/DHH and their parents. Measuring the nature and magnitude of stigma-affecting parents of children who are d/DHH could offer insights into how to additionally support these parents. Nonetheless, there is a gap in validated scales to measure stigma among parents of children who are d/DHH. In response, we developed and preliminarily validated five measures of stigma among parents of children who are d/DHH. DESIGN: Measures were developed through a mixed-method process: (1) a scoping literature review, (2) a modified Delphi process consisting of two group discussions (n = 3, n = 4) and two individual discussions with parents of children who are d/DHH from high-income countries (HICs) and low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), (3) cognitive interviews with parents of children who are d/DHH in the United States (U.S.) (n = 5) and Ghana (n = 5), and (4) a pretest of the survey in the U.S. (n = 28) and Ghana (n = 30). Modifications to the measures were made after each stage. This article focuses on evaluating the psychometric performance of the developed measures. Parents were recruited in the U.S. (n = 100) and Ghana (n = 173). Convenience sampling was used in both countries. In Ghana, survey administration was in-person with trained interviewers collecting data on tablets. In the U.S. data were collected online through self-administered surveys. RESULTS: The final five scales measured: (1) parental observation of stigma their child experiences (seven items), (2) parental perceptions of stigma toward their child (eight items), (3) parental secondary experienced stigma (eight items), (4) perceived parental secondary stigma (five items), and (5) parental internalized stigma (seven items). All scales performed strongly and similarly across both country samples. The scales had ordinal αs ranging from 0.864 to 0.960, indicating strong reliability. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides a set of preliminarily validated stigma measures to capture the experience of parents of children who are d/DHH. Measuring stigma among parents is critical to understanding parental mental health, as parental well-being affects the health and development of their child. Furthermore, measuring observed stigma by parents can allow the researcher to gain an understanding of the stigma experienced by children who are d/DHH that they may not be able to communicate. Further studies testing these measures across other countries and with more diverse samples are needed.

Validation of screening instruments for common mental disorders and suicide risk in south African primary care settings.

INTRODUCTION: In South Africa, there is limited mental health infrastructure and resources. Valid screening tools are needed to facilitate identification and linkage to care. We evaluated the performance of Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), Primary Care Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Screen for DSM-5 (PC-PTSD-5), and the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) among adults in South Africa against a diagnostic gold standard. METHODS: Adults present at healthcare facilities were screened with the PHQ-9, GAD-7, PC-PTSD-5, and the C-SSRS. Nurses used a structured diagnostic interview to identify depression, anxiety, panic disorder, PTSD and elevated suicide risk. We assessed the internal consistency, criterion validity, and the sensitivity and specificity of these tools. RESULTS: Of the 1885 participants, the prevalence of common mental disorders and suicide risk was 24.4 % and 14.9 %, respectively. The PHQ-9, GAD-7, and PC-PTSD-5 showed good internal consistency (0.80-0.89). All screeners demonstrated good criterion validity. For depression, a cut-off of ≥5 on the PHQ-9 yielded sensitivity of 84.24 %, while ≥10 yielded sensitivity of 48.77 %. For anxiety, the GAD-7 performed similarly. A cut-off of ≥4 on the PC-PTSD yielded sensitivity of 61.96 %. The C-SSRS yielded lower sensitivity than expected. LIMITATIONS: The prevalence data is not generalizable to the larger South African adult population given the use of a targeted, healthcare facility-based sampling and recruitment strategy. CONCLUSIONS: The performance of the PHQ-9, GAD-7, and PC-PTSD-5 demonstrated good internal consistency and criterion validity, though sensitivity and specificity trade-offs were enhanced with lower cut-offs. Further research into suicide risk screening is warranted.

Measuring intersectional HIV, sexual diversity, and gender non-conformity stigma among healthcare workers in Ghana: scale validation and correlates of stigma.

BACKGROUND: Men who have sex with men (MSM) are at heightened risk for HIV acquisition, yet they may delay or avoid HIV testing due to intersectional stigma experienced at the healthcare facility (HCF). Few validated scales exist to measure intersectional stigma, particularly amongst HCF staff. We developed the Healthcare Facility Staff Intersectional Stigma Scale (HCF-ISS) and assessed factors associated with stigma in Ghana. METHODS: We analyzed baseline data from HCF staff involved in a study testing a multi-level intervention to reduce intersectional stigma experienced by MSM. Data are from eight HCFs in Ghana (HCF Staff n = 200). The HCF-ISS assesses attitudes and beliefs towards same-sex relationships, people living with HIV (PLWH) and gender non-conformity. Exploratory factor analysis assessed HCF-ISS construct validity and Cronbach's alphas assessed the reliability of the scale. Multivariable regression analyses assessed factors associated with intersectional stigma. RESULTS: Factor analysis suggested an 18-item 3-factor scale including: Comfort with Intersectional Identities in the Workplace (6 items, Cronbach's alpha = 0.71); Beliefs about Gender and Sexuality Norms (7 items, Cronbach's alpha = 0.72); and Beliefs about PLWH (5 items, Cronbach's alpha = 0.68). Having recent clients who engage in same-gender sex was associated with greater comfort with intersectional identities but more stigmatizing beliefs about PLWH. Greater religiosity was associated with stigmatizing beliefs. Infection control training was associated with less stigma towards PLWH and greater comfort with intersectional identities. CONCLUSIONS: Achieving the goal of ending AIDS by 2030 requires eliminating barriers that undermine access to HIV prevention and treatment for MSM, including HCF intersectional stigma. The HCF-ISS provides a measurement tool to support intersectional stigma-reduction interventions.

Friendship Bench Intervention to Address Depression and Improve HIV Care Engagement Among Adolescents Living with HIV in Malawi: Study Protocol for a Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Adolescents in Sub-Saharan Africa are disproportionately affected by the HIV epidemic. Comorbid depression is prevalent among adolescents living with HIV (ALWH) and poses numerous challenges to HIV care engagement and retainment. We present a pilot trial designed to investigate feasibility, fidelity, and acceptability of an adapted and an enhanced Friendship Bench intervention (henceforth: AFB and EFB) in reducing depression and improving engagement in HIV care among ALWH in Malawi. Methods: Design:: Participants will be randomized to one of three conditions: the Friendship Bench intervention adapted for ALWH (AFB, n=35), the Friendship Bench intervention enhanced with peer support (EFB, n=35), or standard of care (SOC, n=35). Recruitment is planned for early 2024 in four clinics in Malawi.Participants:: Eligibility criteria (1) aged 13-19; (2) diagnosed with HIV (vertically or horizontally); (3) scored ≥ 13 on the self-reported Beck's Depression Inventory (BDI-II); (4) living in the clinic's catchment area with intention to remain for at least 1 year; and (5) willing to provide informed consent.Interventions:: AFB includes 6 counseling sessions facilitated by young, trained non-professional counselors. EFB consists of AFB plus integration of peer support group sessions to facilitate engagement in HIV care. SOC for mental health in public facilities in Malawi includes options for basic supportive counseling, medication, referral to mental health clinics or psychiatric units at tertiary care hospitals for more severe cases.Outcomes:: The primary outcomes are feasibility, acceptability, and fidelity of the AFB and EFB assessed at 6 months and 12 months and compared across 3 arms. The secondary outcome is to assess preliminary effectiveness of the interventions in reducing depressive symptoms and improving HIV viral suppression at 6 months and 12 months. Discussion: This pilot study will provide insights into youth-friendly adaptations of the Friendship Bench model for ALWH in Malawi and the value of adding group peer support for HIV care engagement. The information gathered in this study will lead to a R01 application to test our adapted intervention in a large-scale cluster randomized controlled trial to improve depression and engagement in HIV care among ALWH.

Improving integrated depression and non-communicable disease care in Malawi through engaged leadership and supportive implementation climate.

BACKGROUND: Low- and middle-income countries often lack access to mental health services, leading to calls for integration within other primary care systems. In sub-Saharan Africa, integration of depression treatment in non-communicable disease (NCD) settings is feasible, acceptable, and effective. However, leadership and implementation climate challenges often hinder effective integration and quality of services. The aim of this study was to identify discrete leadership strategies that facilitate overcoming barriers to the integration of depression care in NCD clinics in Malawi and to understand how clinic leadership shapes the implementation climate. METHODS: We conducted 39 in-depth interviews with the District Medical Officer, the NCD coordinator, one NCD provider, and the research assistant from each of the ten Malawian NCD clinics (note one District Medical Officer served two clinics). Based on semi-structured interview guides, participants were asked their perspectives on the impact of leadership and implementation climate on overcoming barriers to integrating depression care into existing NCD services. Thematic analysis used both inductive and deductive approaches to identify emerging themes and compare among participant type. RESULTS: The results revealed how engaged leadership can fuel a positive implementation climate where clinics had heightened capacity to overcome implementation barriers. Effective leaders were approachable and engaged in daily operations of the clinic and problem-solving. They held direct involvement with and mentorship during the intervention, providing assistance in patient screening and consultation with treatment plans. Different levels of leadership utilized their respective standings and power dynamics to influence provider attitudes and perceptions surrounding the intervention. Leaders acted by informing providers about the intervention source and educating them on the importance of mental healthcare, as it was often undervalued. Lastly, they prioritized teamwork and collective ownership for the intervention, increasing provider responsibility. CONCLUSION: Training that prioritizes leadership visibility and open communication will facilitate ongoing Malawi Ministry of Health efforts to scale up evidence-based depression treatment within NCD clinics. This proves useful where extensive and external monitoring may be limited. Ultimately, these results can inform successful strategies to close implementation gaps to achieve integration of mental health services in low-resource settings through improved leadership and implementation climate. TRIAL REGISTRATION: These findings are reported from ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03711786. Registered on 18/10/2018. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03711786 .

The acceptability of antidepressant treatment in people living with HIV in Malawi: A patient perspective.

Depression is common among people living with HIV (PLWH). Measurement-based care models that measure depression severity and antidepressant side effects, and use an algorithm to guide antidepressant prescription by non-specialized health workers represent an evidence-based treatment for severe depression in sub-Saharan Africa. We conducted in-depth interviews from June to December 2018 with eleven patients enrolled in Project SOAR-Mental Health, a pilot project integrating depression treatment into HIV care in Malawi. Patients treated with amitriptyline or fluoxetine participated in interviews exploring antidepressant acceptability through patient knowledge, side effect severity, pill burden, adherence, perceived efficacy, and tolerability. Patients described a lack of detailed antidepressant education from their providers. Variable, typically self-limiting side effects were reported from both amitriptyline and fluoxetine. While most side effects were mild, three patients reported functional impairment. Patients reported high adherence, though the additional pill burden was a challenge. Most patients found the antidepressants efficacious, tolerable, beneficial and acceptable. Although patient psychoeducation is notably lacking as a facet of clinical management, antidepressant prescription by primary care providers appears acceptable for comorbid severe depression in PLWH initiating HIV care in sub-Saharan Africa. Health workers should be mindful of dosing to minimise side effects and considerate of the additional pill burden.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov ID [NCT03555669]. Retrospectively registered on 13 June 2018.

"It's Better If I Die Because Even in the Hospital, There is a Stigma, People Still Gossip": Gossip as a Culturally Shaped Labeling Process and Its Implications for HIV-Related Stigma in Botswana.

This study qualitatively explores HIV-related gossip as both a manifestation and driver of HIV-related stigma, which is a known barrier to HIV testing and treatment in Botswana. Data were elicited from 5 focus group discussions and 46 semi-structured in-depth interviews with individuals living with HIV and community members with undisclosed serostatus in Gaborone, Botswana in 2017 (n = 84). Directed content analysis using the 'What Matters Most' theoretical framework identified culturally salient manifestations of HIV-related stigma; simultaneous use of Modified Labeling Theory allowed interpretation and stepwise organization of how the social phenomenon of gossip leads to adverse HIV outcomes. Results indicated that HIV-related gossip can diminish community standing through culturally influenced mechanisms, in turn precipitating poor psychosocial well-being and worsened HIV-related outcomes. These harms may be offset by protective factors, such as appearing healthy, accepting one's HIV status, and community education about the harms of gossip.

Multi-level manifestations of sexual stigma among men with same-gender sexual experience in Ghana.

Sexual stigma and discrimination toward men who have same-gender sexual experiences are present across the globe. In Ghana, same-gender sexual desires and relationships are stigmatized, and the stigma is sanctioned through both social and legal processes. Such stigma negatively influences health and other material and social aspects of daily life for men who have sex with men (MSM). However, there is evidence that stigma at the interpersonal level can intersect with stigma that may be operating simultaneously at other levels. Few studies provide a comprehensive qualitative assessment of the multi-level sexual stigma derived from the direct narratives of men with same-gender sexual experience. To help fill this gap on sexual stigma, we qualitatively investigated [1] what was the range of sexual stigma manifestations, and [2] how sexual stigma manifestations were distributed across socioecological levels in a sample of Ghanaian MSM. From March to September 2020, we conducted eight focus group discussions (FGDs) with MSM about their experiences with stigma from Accra and Kumasi, Ghana. Data from the FGDs were subjected to qualitative content analysis. We identified a range of eight manifestations of sexual stigma: (1) gossiping and outing; (2) verbal abuse and intrusive questioning; (3) non-verbal judgmental gestures; (4) societal, cultural, and religious blaming and shaming; (5) physical abuse; (6) poor-quality services; (7) living in constant fear and stigma avoidance; and (8) internal ambivalence and guilt about sexual behavior. Sexual stigma manifestations were unevenly distributed across socioecological levels. Our findings are consistent with those of existing literature documenting that, across Africa, and particularly in Ghana, national laws and religious institutions continue to drive stigma against MSM. Fundamental anti-homosexual sentiments along with beliefs associating homosexuality with foreign cultures and immorality drive the stigmatization of MSM. Stigma experienced at all socioecological levels has been shown to impact both the mental and sexual health of MSM. Deeper analysis is needed to understand more of the lived stigma experiences of MSM to develop appropriate stigma-reduction interventions. Additionally, more community-level stigma research and interventions are needed that focus on the role of family and peers in stigma toward MSM in Ghana.

Validation of a Brief Internalized Sex-work Stigma Scale among Female Sex Workers in Kenya.

Female sex workers (FSW) often face severe stigma and discrimination and are extremely vulnerable to HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. In the fields of HIV and mental health, internalized stigma is associated with poor health care engagement. Due to the lack of valid, standardized measures for internalized sex work-related stigma, its dimensions and role are not well-understood. This study aimed to validate the six-item Internalized AIDS-Related Stigma Scale adapted to capture internalized sex work-related stigma by examining the scale's psychometric properties and performance among a cross-sectional, snowball sample of FSW (N = 497) in Kenya. While the original pre-hypothesized six-item model yielded acceptable CFI and SRMR values (CFI = 0.978 and SRMR = 0.038), the RMSEA was higher than desirable (RMSEA = 0.145). Our final four-item model demonstrated improved goodness of fit indices (RMSEA = 0.053; CFI = 0.999; and SRMR = 0.005). Both the pre-hypothesized six-item and reduced final four-item model demonstrated good internal consistency (Cronbach's alphas of 0.8162 and 0.8754, respectively). Higher levels of internalized stigma were associated with depression, riskier sexual behavior, and reduced condom use. This very brief measure will allow for reliable assessment of internalized stigma among FSW. Further investigation of internalized stigma among male sex workers, particularly the intersection of sex work-related and same-sex behavior-related stigmas, is needed.

Does It Matter What Screener We Use? A Comparison of Ultra-brief PHQ-4 and E-mwTool-3 Screeners for Anxiety and Depression Among People With and Without HIV.

The burden of depression and anxiety disorders is high in sub-Saharan Africa, especially for people with HIV (PWH). The Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4) and Electronic Mental Wellness Tool-3 (E-mwTool-3) are ultra-brief screening tools for these disorders. We compared the performance of PHQ-4 and E-mwTool-3 for screening MINI-International Neuropsychiatric Interview diagnoses of depression and anxiety among a sample of individuals with and without HIV in two primary care clinics and one general hospital in Maputo City, Mozambique. Areas-under-the-curve (AUC) were calculated along with sensitivities and specificities at a range of cutoffs. For PWH, at a sum score cutoff of ≥ 1, sensitivities were strong: PHQ-4:Depression = 0.843; PHQ-4:Anxiety = 0.786; E-mwTool-3:Depression = 0.843; E-mwTool-3:Anxiety = 0.929. E-mwTool-3 performance was comparable to PHQ-4 among people with and without HIV.

An Ultra-Brief Proxy Measure for Early Mental and Substance Use Disorders and Suicide Risk Case Detection at the Community and Household Level: An Efficient and Feasible Clinical and Population-level Service Needs Screening Tool.

Valid mental and substance use disorders and suicide risk screening tools are needed for community case finding of individuals who may not otherwise seek care. We evaluated the Proxy Mental Wellness Tool-3 (mwTool-3-proxy) a three-item screener that asks about the mental health of another adult, against a diagnostic gold standard in Mozambique and South Africa. The mwTool-3-proxy adapts the three items of the Mental Wellness Tool-3, developed in Mozambique using Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview diagnoses as the criterion standard, regression modeling and expert consultation to determine the best three items for identifying any mental disorder. The Mental Wellness Tool-3 has been validated in South Africa, Spain and the United States, and is being validated in three countries in the Asia-Pacific and Israel. Pairs of adults in South Africa and Mozambique at primary and tertiary healthcare facilities were separately screened with the mwTool-3-proxy and diagnosed using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview. We calculated the sensitivities and specificities for predicting any mental and/or substance use disorder and suicide risk among the proxy individual. We performed additional analyses restricted to respondents who were relatives of one another and who lived in the same household. The prevalence of any Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview-diagnosed disorder among the 229 pairs in both countries was 35.6% (38.5% in Mozambique; 32.9% in South Africa). The pooled sensitivity of the mwTool-3-proxy for identifying any disorder among the proxy individual was 73.01 (95%CI: 65.5-79.65) - 70.24 (95%CI: 59.27-79.73) in Mozambique and 80.00 (95%CI 69.17-88.35) in South Africa. The mwTool-3-proxy is a culturally-relevant, ultra-brief valid measure that can improve mental and substance use disorders and suicide risk case detection with strong sensitivity at the community and household level and offer a means to efficiently and feasibly collect clinical and population-level service needs data.

Validating a measure of anticipated sex work-related stigma among male and female sex workers in Kenya.

Sex workers face different types of sex work-related stigma, which may include anticipated, perceived, experienced, or internalized stigma. Sex work stigma can discourage health care seeking and hamper STI and HIV prevention and treatment efforts. There is a paucity of validated sex work-related stigma measures, and this limits the ability to study the stigma associated with sex work. A cross-sectional survey was conducted that measured anticipated sex work-related stigma among male and female sex workers in Kenya (N = 729). We examined the construct validity and reliability of the anticipated stigma items to establish a conceptually and statistically valid scale. Our analysis supported a 15-item scale measuring five anticipated sex work stigma domains: gossip and verbal abuse from family; gossip and verbal abuse from healthcare workers; gossip and verbal abuse from friends and community; physical abuse; and exclusion. The scale demonstrated good face, content, and construct validity. Reliability was good for all subscales and the overall scale. The scale demonstrated good model fit statistics and good standardized factor loadings. The availability of valid and reliable stigma measures will enhance efforts to characterize and address stigma among sex workers and ultimately support the protection, health and well-being of this vulnerable population.

Using a mixed-methods approach to adapt an HIV stigma reduction to address intersectional stigma faced by men who have sex with men in Ghana.

INTRODUCTION: In Ghana, men who have sex with men (MSM) are estimated to be 11 times more likely to be living with HIV than the general population. Stigmas at the intersection of HIV, same-sex and gender non-conformity are potential key drivers behind this outsized HIV disease burden. Healthcare workers (HCWs) are essential to HIV prevention, care and treatment and can also be sources of stigma for people living with HIV and MSM. This article describes the process and results of adapting an evidence-based HIV stigma-reduction HCW training curriculum to address HIV, same-sex and gender non-conformity stigma among HCWs in the Greater Accra and Ashanti regions, Ghana. METHODS: Six steps were implemented from March 2020 to September 2021: formative research (in-depth interviews with stigma-reduction trainers [n = 8] and MSM living with HIV [n = 10], and focus group discussions with HCWs [n = 8] and MSM [n = 8]); rapid data analysis to inform a first-draft adapted curriculum; a stakeholder adaptation workshop; triangulation of adaptation with HCW baseline survey data (N = 200) and deeper analysis of formative data; iterative discussions with partner organizations for further refinement; external expert review; and final adaptation with the teams of HCWs and MSM being trained to deliver the curriculum. RESULTS: Key themes emerging under four immediately actionable drivers of health facility intersectional stigma (awareness, fear, attitudes and facility environment) informed the adaptation of the HIV training curriculum. Based on the findings, existing curriculum exercises were placed in one of four categories: (1) Expand-existing exercises that needed modifications to incorporate deeper MSM and gender non-conformity stigma content; (2) Generate-new exercises to fill gaps; (3) Maintain-exercises to keep with no modifications; and (4) Eliminate-exercises that could be dropped given training time constraints. New exercises were developed to address gender norms, the belief that being MSM is a mental illness and stigmatizing attitudes towards MSM. CONCLUSIONS: Getting to the "heart of stigma" requires understanding and responding to both HIV and other intersecting stigma targeting sexual and gender diversity. Findings from this study can inform health facility stigma reduction programming not only for MSM, but also for other populations affected by HIV-related and intersectional stigma in Ghana and beyond.

A pilot pragmatic trial of a "what matters most"-based intervention targeting intersectional stigma related to being pregnant and living with HIV in Botswana.

We conducted a pilot trial of an intervention targeting intersectional stigma related to being pregnant and living with HIV while promoting capabilities for achieving 'respected motherhood' ('what matters most') in Botswana. A pragmatic design allocated participants to the intervention (N = 44) group and the treatment-as-usual (N = 15) group. An intent-to-treat, difference-in-difference analysis found the intervention group had significant decreases in HIV stigma (d = - 1.20; 95% CI - 1.99, - 0.39) and depressive symptoms (d = - 1.96; 95% CI - 2.89, - 1.02) from baseline to 4-months postpartum. Some, albeit less pronounced, changes in intersectional stigma were observed, suggesting the importance of structural-level intervention components to reduce intersectional stigma.