Responding to a national policy need: development of a stigma indicator for bloodborne viruses and sexually transmissible infections

摘要

In Australia, there are five strategies thatset out a national response to HIV, viralhepatitis and sexually transmissibleinfections.1-5 Each strategy contains a setof objectives that work towards reducingthe transmission, morbidity and mortalityassociated with these infections, withprogress monitored via a set of relatedindicators. A clear objective exists withineach of the five strategies to “eliminate thenegative impact of stigma, discrimination,and legal and human rights issues on people’shealth”.1-5 However, until recently, there hasbeen no indicator to measure stigma andmonitor progress against these objectives.This commentary outlines an approach takento develop a stigma indicator and lessonslearned from its implementation in surveys ofpriority population groups.