AIDSQuest: The HIV/AIDS Survey Library
Survey Summaries

International Center for Research on Women—Tanzania Stigma Indicator and Community Endline Individual Questionnaire

Overview
This endline survey was used in an intervention study to reduce HIV-related stigma at the community level in Tanzania. The study included a random sample of approximately 1,000 respondents in Kimara Ward, Kindononi District, Tanzania. Project partners include the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW), the Department of Psychiatry at Muhimbili University College of the Health Sciences (MUCHS) in Tanzania, and Kimara, a Tanzanian NGO.

The survey, particularly the baseline version, was also used to test and refine indicators to measure HIV-related stigma. The questions addressing stigma asked questions within four specific domains: (1) fear of “casual” transmission of HIV and refusal of contact with people living with HIV or AIDS; (2) shame, blame, and judgment; (3) enacted stigma; and (4) disclosure.

The survey includes a number of topics, including stigma and discrimination, sociodemographics, HIV knowledge, and risk and prevention behaviors.

Methodology/validity
The development of the stigma indicators builds on the findings of ICRW and its partners in a multi-country study on stigma (Nyblade et al. 2003), Horizons/Population Council and POLICY Project/Futures Group International, Inc. work on stigma, and discussions with other members of the USAID-convened Stigma and Discrimination Interagency Working Group. A detailed summary of the testing and validation process can been found in Appendix C.

The survey was developed through a process of outlining key domains and issues that should be covered, reviewing existing instruments, and developing individual questions based on the existing instruments and identified domains. An initial round of pre-testing of the Kiswahili version led to revisions based on the input generated. This version was then pre-tested in Kawe ward, Kinondoni District, Dar es Salaam (some distance from the study community), and changes were made accordingly. Once the final Kiswahili version of the questionnaire was ready, a revised English version was produced.

Nyblade, Laura et al. 2003. Disentangling HIV and AIDS Stigma in Ethiopia, Tanzania and Zambia. Washington, DC: ICRW. (offsite PDF)

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This page updated 21 August 2006

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