AIDSImpact.com:: - Santa Fe, USA 2011

Abstract #294 - LIVE consortium’s university anti-stigma campaign: An effective instrument in reducing stigma?
Authors: Presenting Author: Mr Beau Miller - LIVE CONSORTIUM
Additional Authors: Ms. Sara Millimet, Mr. Pahl Samson, Prof Michael Ross,
Aim: To implement, and evaluate the impact of an HIV anti-stigma campaign at a large southern US university.
Method / Issue: A university-wide HIV anti-stigma campaign ran for 1 month in a large US liberal arts university. Pre-test evaluations were carried out on 685, and post-test evaluations on 515, students, approximately equal numbers of men and women. Post-test immediately followed the month-long campaign. Instruments included an HIV knowledge scale and a modified version of the Bogardus Social Distance scale, modified to make it applicable to HIV, along with demographic variables.
Results / Comments: The pre- and post-test samples were not significantly different on demographic variables or number of people, or those close, with HIV/AIDS. Data indicated no differences in HIV knowledge score (with high scores on the pre-test), and a significant decrease in perceived social distance and social comfort with people with HIV/AIDS. There were no differences in the salience of HIV between pre- and post-test.
Discussion: There was a significant impact of the campaign on the social distance measure indicating greater acceptance of and comfort with people with HIV/AIDS. Data suggest that measurement of social distance/social comfort is an appropriate measure, and that the campaign was successful in reducing HIV-associated stigma by reducing perceived social distance from people with HIV/AIDS.
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