Translation, cross-cultural adaptation and validation of an HIV/AIDS knowledge and attitudinal instrument

AIDS Educ Prev. 2007 Jun;19(3):231-44. doi: 10.1521/aeap.2007.19.3.231.

Abstract

An instrument developed in the United States by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to assess HIV/AIDS knowledge and four attitudinal dimensions (Peer Pressure, Abstinence, Drug Use, and Threat of HIV Infection) and an instrument developed by Basen-Engquist et al. (1999) to measure abstinence and condom use were translated, cross-culturally adapted, and validated for use with Spanish-speaking high school students in El Salvador. A back-translation of the English version was cross-culturally adapted using two different review panels and pilot-tested with Salvadorian students. An expert panel established content validity, and confirmatory factor analysis provided support for construct validity. Results indicated that the methodology was successful in cross-culturally adapting the instrument developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the instrument developed by Basen-Engquist et al. The psychometric properties of the knowledge section were acceptable and there was partial support for the four-factor attitudinal model underlying the CDC instrument and the two-factor model underlying the Basen-Engquist et al. instrument. Additional studies with Spanish-speaking populations (either in the United States or Latin America) are needed to evaluate the generalizability of the present results.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S.
  • Cross-Cultural Comparison
  • El Salvador
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / prevention & control
  • HIV Infections / psychology
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Pilot Projects
  • Psychometrics / instrumentation
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • United States