Protective factors for adolescent sexual risk behaviours and experiences linked to HIV infection in South Africa: a three-wave longitudinal analysis of caregiving, education, food security, and social protection

Journal article

Introduction: This study validates a scale to measure vulnerability to HIV in school-attending adolescents. The results show a solid factorial structure and high reliability, supporting its use in research and prevention. Objective: This study aimed to determine the validity and reliability of the Scale for Vulnerability to HIV in School-Aged Adolescents. Methodology: A cross-sectional, instrumental, descriptive study was conducted with a random sample of 890 adolescents aged 14 to 21 years, enrolled in public schools in Bogotá, Colombia. Construct validity was assessed using Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), and reliability was evaluated through Cronbach's alpha coefficient. Results: The EFA identified ten factors related to HIV vulnerability, such as school-based sexual education, partner maltreatment, risky sexual behaviors, and self-image, explaining 57% of the total variance. Factor loadings ranged from 0.49 to 0.93, and reliability coefficients (Cronbach's alpha) ranged from 0.71 to 0.93. These results enabled the development of the EVA scale, designed to measure HIV vulnerability in school-aged adolescents. Conclusion: The EVA scale demonstrated strong psychometric properties, and its use is recommended to identify HIV vulnerability in adolescents with characteristics similar to the studied population.Introducción: Este estudio valida una escala para medir la vulnerabilidad al VIH en adolescentes escolarizados. Los resultados muestran una estructura factorial sólida y alta fiabilidad, respaldando su uso en investigación y prevención. Objetivo: Este estudio tuvo como objetivo determinar la validez y fiabilidad de la Escala para Vulnerabilidad al VIH en Adolescentes Escolarizados. Metodología: Se realizó un estudio instrumental, descriptivo transversal con una muestra aleatoria de 890 adolescentes, de 14 a 21 años, provenientes de colegios públicos de Bogotá, Colombia. La validez de constructo se determinó mediante Análisis Factorial Exploratorio (AFE) y la fiabilidad se evaluó con el coeficiente alfa de Cronbach. Resultados: El AFE identificó diez factores relacionados con la vulnerabilidad al VIH, tales como educación sexual escolar, maltrato de pareja, comportamientos sexuales de riesgo y autoimagen, que explicaron el 57% de la varianza total. Las cargas factoriales oscilaron entre 0.49 y 0.93, y los coeficientes de fiabilidad (alfa de Cronbach) estuvieron entre 0.71 y 0.93. Estos resultados permitieron la construcción de la escala EVA, diseñada para medir la vulnerabilidad al VIH en adolescentes escolarizados. Conclusiones: La escala EVA demostró tener propiedades psicométricas sólidas, por lo que se recomienda su uso para identificar la vulnerabilidad al VIH en adolescentes de características similares a la población estudiada

Authors: Rudgard, WE; Saminathen, MG; Orkin, M; Banougnin, BH; Shenderovich, Y

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: BioMed Central
• Journal: BMC Public Health
• Volume: 23
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 1452-1452
• Article number: 1452
• Publication date: 2023-07-29
• DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-16373-5
• EISSN: 1471-2458
• ISSN: 1471-2458
• Language: English
• Keywords: Environmental health; Biostatistics; Transactional sex; Public health; Longitudinal study; Cohort; Psychiatry; Gerontology; Logistic regression; Demography; Psychological intervention; Medicine; Population; Epidemiology