Validation and Reliability of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) Health Care-Seeking Behaviour Questionnaire based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour, and Stigma-Shame Scales among Men who have Sex with Man (MSM) in Malaysian

Mardhiyyah, Azmi and Noorzilawati, Sahak and Mizanur, Rahman and Razitasham, Safii (2021) Validation and Reliability of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) Health Care-Seeking Behaviour Questionnaire based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour, and Stigma-Shame Scales among Men who have Sex with Man (MSM) in Malaysian. Medicine and Health, 16 (2). p. 41. ISSN 2289-5728

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Abstract

Introduction: The rising numbers of men who have sex with men (MSM) population showed a significant health issue in recent years. However, the utilisation of sexually transmitted infections (STI)-related health care services among MSM was found to be very low. Understanding the factors is essential in improving the STIs healthcare-seeking behaviour among MSM. Objective: This pilot study aimed to evaluate the instrument’s feasibility for a fullscale study and assess the respondents’ experience answering the questionnaires. Methods: Sexually transmitted infections healthcare-seeking behaviour was measured based on the frequency of the visit to STIs services in 12 months using the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) variables (i.e. attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control). Besides, the STIs knowledge and STIs-related stigma-shame scales were also evaluated for content validity and internal reliability. Result: Within 12 months, 54.3% of respondents had frequent visits (>1 time), 17.1% had infrequent visits and 28.6% never visit the services. About 85.7% of participants had ever had an STI test. The item-level content validity index (I-CVI) for 47 items scale ranged between 0.67 to 1.00. The scale-level index per average (S-CVI/Ave) for subscales ranged between 0.94 to 1.00. The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient for each subscale ranged from 0.844 to 0.929 with an overall scale was 0.892. Conclusion: The scales were valid and reliable measures for assessing possible contributing factors of STIs healthcare-seeking behaviour among MSM in Malaysian Borneo. The scales could be used for a full-scale study.

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