Background: HIV-related stigma is a barrier to effective HIV responses among people living with HIV (PLHIV). Objectives: The current study aimed at measuring HIV-related stigma, and its associated factors among the general population in the Southeast of Iran. Methods: The current cross-sectional study was conducted on a convenience sample of 900 individuals in Kerman, Southeast of Iran, from July to September 2016. Data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire, including (I) demographic and background characteristics; (II) HIV-related stigma; and (III) HIV-related knowledge. Data were analyzed with SPSS version 20 using descriptive statistics, as well as bivariable and multivariable linear regressions. Results: Low, moderate, and high levels of stigmatizing attitudes toward PLHIV were reported by 39.1%, 57.8%, and 3.1% of the participants, respectively. Female sex(beta = 0.33, P value = 0.01) and those not having a history of HIV testing (beta = 0.45, P value < 0.001) had, on average, higher levels of stigmatizing attitudes, while those with a higher level of education (beta = -0.97, P value < 0.001) had, on average, lower levels of stigmatizing attitudes. Conclusions: Gender-sensitive educational interventions need to be developed to reduce the negative attitude towards PLHIV in Iran.

Stigma and discrimination are one of the important challenges in coping with HIV infection. Stigma and discrimination are universal phenomenon for the epidemic of HIV and exposure to people with HIV. The present study aimed to develop and measure psychometrically the HIV/AIDS Stigma and discrimination scale from the general population viewpoint in southeast Iran. Data collection lasted from May to September 2016. The results showed that the “HIV/AIDS Stigma and discrimination scale” had an acceptable internal consistency and stability (Cronbach’s alpha coefficient = 0.69, omega coefficient = 0.7, and r = 0.57, p = 0.001). The scale had acceptable content and face validities. The Principal Axis Factoring (PAF) with varimax rotation analysis shows that the scale has 4 dimensions: “patient social position” (5 items), “social support” (4 items), “social disease perspective” (7 items), and “social harassment” (2 items). In general, the psychometric properties of “HIV/AIDS Stigma and discrimination scale” are acceptable, and this scale can be used in studies.