Validity and reliability of the Neilands sexual stigma scale among Kenyan gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men
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Date
2022-04-14
Authors
Korhonen, Christine J.
Flaherty, Brian P.
Wahome, Elizabeth
Macharia, Pascal
Musyoki, Helgar
Battacharjee, Parinita
Kimani, Joshua
Doshi, Monika
Mathenge, John
Lorway, Robert R.
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Abstract
Abstract
Background
We evaluated the validity and reliability of the Neilands sexual stigma scale administered to 871 gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) at two research locations in Kenya.
Methods
Using cross-validation, exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was performed on a randomly selected subset of participants and validated using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) on the remaining participants. Associations of the initial and final stigma scale factors with depressive symptoms, alcohol use, and other substance use were examined for the entire dataset.
Results
EFA produced a two-factor scale of perceived and enacted stigma. The CFA model fit to the two-factor scale was improved after removing three cross-loaded items and adding correlated errors (chi-squared = 26.5, df 17, p = 0.07). Perceived stigma was associated with depressive symptoms (beta = 0.34, 95% CI 0.24, 0.45), alcohol use (beta = 0.14, 95% CI 0.03, 0.25) and other substance use (beta = 0.19, 95% CI 0.07, 0.31), while enacted stigma was associated with alcohol use (beta = 0.17, 95% CI 0.06, 0.27).
Conclusions
Our findings suggest enacted and perceived sexual stigma are distinct yet closely related constructs among GBMSM in Kenya and are associated with poor mental health and substance use.
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Citation
BMC Public Health. 2022 Apr 14;22(1):754